Editorial Note
In telegram 267 to Canberra, April 6, marked “From Dulles for Spender”, the former stated in part: “Since further to explore this quadri-partite arrangement with inevitable further talks with UK wld involve considerable delay, and since your and NZ preference is for triangular arrangement, we are concentrating upon trying to clear this within our own govt. This involves mil as well as domestic problems [Page 190] and exploration with Phil Govt. We shall, however, do all possible to create a situation which wld make it possible to make an authoritative high-level statement of purposes along lines of Canberra talks by about Apr. 15.” (694.001/4–651)
Mr. Spender replied on April 13. “I was pleased to receive your message of 5th [6th?] April and to know that you are concentrating on trying to clear the triangular arrangement. As you say, this is the solution we and New Zealand would prefer, particularly if it would involve, as seems likely, less delay than a quadripartite agreement. A three power arrangement would also receive the wholehearted support of the United Kingdom.” In the remainder of his message, which has not been found in State Department files, Mr. Spender outlined his proposal for a public statement to be made by the Australian Government in conjunction with the projected statement by President Truman.
For text of the message, see Exercises in Diplomacy, page 168.