398.00BA/3–250
Memorandum of Conversion, by the Director of the Office of Philippine and Southeast Asian Affairs (Lacy)
Subject: Australian Reply to the Invitation from the Philippine Government to Attend the Baguio Conference.
| Participants: | Mr. Owen Davis—First Secretary, Australian Embassy |
| PSA—Mr. Lacy |
Mr. Davis called today at his request to read me the text of the Australian reply to the invitation from the Philippine Government to attend the Baguio Conference in mid-March 1950. (This reply has been handed our Embassy at Canberra which is pouching text.1)
The Australian Government has advised the Philippine Government that were it to participate in the conference they would consider it appropriate to send the highest officials; this is impossible because the Parliament will remain in session for some several months. The reply continues to say that the Australian Government is concerned to act upon the recommendations of the Commonwealth Conference at Ceylon and that a convocation of Commonwealth countries will take place at Canberra in the near future for the purpose of discussing Commonwealth interests in southern Asia. The Australian Government expresses the hope that these discussions will form a basis for a south Asian regional arrangement with which the Philippines might be associated. [I asked Mr. Davis when the Canberra meeting would take place and he replied that he thought within the next two months.]2
[Page 37]In view of the foregoing the Australian Government, while expressing great sympathy with the stated objectives of the Baguio Conference, advises that it is unable to participate therein.