The Conference between the Dutch and Indonesians under
Christison's Chairmanship is still expected to meet to-day.

Christison told me this morning that although the British were
happy for me to attend the Conference as a silent observer, he
felt unable to insist on this against objections from Van Mook.

Consequently Australia will not be represented at the Conference.

I urged to Christison and Dening-
(1) That this Conference might importantly determine the future of
70 millions of Australia's closest neighbours and the future of an
area in which Australia had most vital military concern as
evidenced our military operations in this war;

(2) That if the partnership between the British and Australians
within the British Commonwealth of Nations were to be real and not
only rhetorical then Australia had valid claim to be represented
as observer at this Conference;

(3) That if on the other hand the British took the attitude that
this problem was to be solved privately between the Netherlands
and United Kingdom despite the fact that Australia's destiny lies
mainly in the Pacific Ocean, then this raises in a fundamental
form exactly what meaning can be applied to the term partnership.

I recalled Cairo and Potsdam.

Dening claimed that my arguments were all beside the point since
Australia [1] a sovereign power. This means, I assume, that my
position here must continue as at present, which is in
Christison's words a member of his staff or, as an alternative
course that I should become an independent Australian
representative accredited to the Netherlands Government but
stationed in Java. I believe that Dening's argument is legally
correct.

The present position therefore is that I remain a member of
Christison's Staff which must materially limit my opportunities to
proceed with enquiries, or you must arrange my independent
civilian accreditation to Hague.

Christison, Dening and Walsh personally are most friendly and
helpful. Nevertheless my strong impression is that my presence
here is embarrassing the British in their relations with the
Dutch. Clearly as a member of Christison's Staff he has a right
which he has not asked, to sight and approve all signals I send
you. I would therefore urgently urge you to clarify my position
here since my continued presence here under existing arrangements
is likely to be either embarrassing to the British or useless to
Australia. For example this morning I had thirty minutes with
Sjahrir and this is not wholly welcomed by the British. This is
fully understandable since it is impossible for Christison to
approve a member of his staff making independent contacts with the
Indonesians. Please clarify urgently. Otherwise I seek your
permission to return to Australia.

I feel that the present situation is delicate and difficult and
most strongly urge you to make no statement and take no action
which would suggest to other powers any present lack of complete
unity of Australia and British view points.