711.47/12–546: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Australia (Butler)
273. From Hickerson. Reurtel 299, Dec. 5.83 Delay informing you regarding Manus caused by shortage personnel resulting from CFM and UN activities and is regretted.
During Evatt’s visit to Dept he did raise question of joint rights of use of Manus in exchange for similar Australian rights at Guam. This was and is unacceptable to both State and Navy Depts. However, we offered Evatt such rights at Canton and American Samoa in exchange for similar rights at Manus. On Mar 14 we handed Australian Embassy a preliminary draft of a suggested base agreement for Manus. Please inform Evatt that at any time convenient to Aust Gov we would be happy to enter into discussions here in Washington with a view to early agreement our use Manus and that we are prepared include in agreement provision for similar Aust use Canton and Samoa. A copy of our proposal was sent to Canberra under cover secret letter dated Mar 18.
You are informed in strictest secrecy that the Navy Dept plans to withdraw completely from Manus within a few months. The Navy [Page 710] does not consider maintenance of facilities in Manus of significant importance to US. Nevertheless we are still prepared to enter into agreement outlined above provided the US is not obligated financially at Manus.84 [Hickerson.]
- Not printed.↩
- The substance of this instruction was communicated to the Australian Department of External Affairs by the U.S. Embassy at Canberra in a third person note dated December 12 (811.24590/12–1246). The Department was so informed in telegram 305, December 12, from Canberra (711.47/12–1246).↩