[Enclosure]
During my visit to Washington I had a valuable conversation with the
President of the United States about the defence of South-East Asia
and, in particular, the defence of Malaya to which Australia
attaches the highest possible significance.
Our discussions made it abundantly clear that in the general task of
preventing further Communist aggression, the United States
considered the defence of Malaya to be of very great importance.
I raised the question whether in the event of Great Britain,
Australia and New Zealand undertaking to engage substantial forces
for the defence of Malaya, we could be assured that the U.S. would,
((?) in the air and on the sea) be prepared to give us effective
co-operation.
To this the President replied that though the tactical employment of
forces was a matter which would have to be worked out in detail on
the Services level, we could be assured of effective co-operation by
the United States.
I enquired further whether the deficiencies in military equipment
which have inevitably arisen from the very great pressure which
exists upon our own resources of money, men and materials, we might
hope to be able to look to the United States for military supply on
some basis to be arranged.
The President replied that having regard to what he knew so well
about Australia’s attitude and fighting capacity he would be happy
to authorize his own Supply people to take this matter up with
Australia’s corresponding officials upon the basis of an accurate
assessment of our deficiencies and a consideration of the ways and
means by which the equipment positon may be improved.
In brief, I am in a position to say by the authority of the President
that Australia can feel assured of complete co-operation between our
two nations in the defence of our common security and in resistance
to any further acts of Communist aggression.
