890.0146/8–1946

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Acting Director of the Office of European Affairs (Hickerson)

Mr. Harry89 came in to see me at 5 p.m., Friday afternoon, August 16th at his request and handed me the attached undated memorandum and its enclosure.90 It will be noted that the enclosure is a draft trusteeship agreement for New Guinea. Mr. Harry said that the Australian Government would be grateful to receive the comments of the U.S. Government on this draft as a matter of urgency. He said that it would be of assistance if they could receive the views of the U.S. Government through our representative in Canberra.

I told Mr. Harry that we would be glad to consider this draft and to give the Australian Government our comments on it as soon as we can. I said that since our experts are here and not in Canberra it might be desirable for our experts in the Division of Dependent Areas to discuss this matter with officers of the Australian Embassy, but that I assumed that we would have no objection to transmitting our views when they are finalized through our Embassy in Canberra if that is the wish of the Australian Government.

I read the aide-mémoire of the draft hurriedly. I commented to Mr. Harry that I saw no mention in the draft or the aide-mémoire of the proposals which we gave to the Australian Embassy in Washington on March 14, 1946 proposing an agreement under which the United States would have joint military rights with Australia in certain facilities in the Admiralty Islands.91 I said that since no specific reference was made I assumed that it is the view of the Australian Government that Article VII of the draft would provide adequately for such an agreement with the United States; it reads as follows: “The Administering Authority may take all measures in the Territory [Page 614] which it considers desirable to provide for the defence of the Territory and for the maintenance of international peace and security.” Mr. Harry said that he was not informed on this aspect of the matter.92

John Hickerson
  1. Second Secretary of the Australian Embassy.
  2. Aide-Mémoire and attached draft trusteeship agreement for New Guinea not printed.
  3. For the Department’s memorandum of March 14, see vol. v, p. 16.
  4. In a memorandum of even date to the Chief of the Division of Dependent Area Affairs (Gerig) Mr. Hickerson said: “I am taking up with the War and Navy Departments and the Joint Chiefs of Staff the security aspects of this draft and its effect upon our proposed agreement with Australia giving us joint military rights in certain installations in the Admiralty Islands. Mr. Richards of BC [Arthur Richards, Assistant Chief of the Division of British Commonwealth Affairs] and I will be glad to collaborate with you in the preparation of a reply to the Australian aide-mémoire.” (890.0146/8–1946)

    Copies of the Australian documents were forwarded for comment to the War and Navy Departments on August 20.