South Pacific Commission.

Your 1342- [1]

1. Please inform United States authorities that all other
governments have indicated willingness to attend meeting in
Sydney. [2] United Kingdom Government specifically mentions
desirability of making progress this year with plans for getting
the Commission to work as soon as possible.

2.United States attitude is particularly disappointing in view of
their earlier note of 15th August. [3] It should be pointed out,
furthermore, that in the case of the Caribbean Commission, the
successor to the Anglo-American Caribbean Commission, the former
being more extensive in scope and membership and designed to
facilitate progress in peace-time social and economic development
in the Caribbean, the United States Government participated in its
activities long before ratification. Such maters as appointment of
Secretary-General, establishment of Secretariat, drawing up of the
Budget, were all considered and decided upon by the Commissioners
of each member government in the pre-ratification stage. Moreover,
in the case of the South Pacific Commission Agreement we
understood substantial progress had been made in Congress and that
there was no suggestion of Congressional unwillingness to sanction
participation in the Commission's activities.

3. We shall be replying formally through the United States Embassy
here but in meantime desire you urgently to make our attitude
known to the United States authorities stressing our hope that
they will find it possible to make representatives available for
the Sydney meeting. We should appreciate an early indication of
their attitude in view of the shortness of time remaining before
the Conference meets. Kerr is being asked to consult with you with
a view to making representations on the same lines to appropriate
United States representatives at the Assembly.

4. You might advise the United States authorities informally that
we feel that the meeting in Sydney should consist of Commissioners
Designate if possible or other suitably qualified representatives
for the purpose of reaching conclusions and recommendations to
member governments on such matters as appointment of Secretary-
General, planning of Secretariat and Research Council structure,
draft Rules of Procedure for the Commission, Budget for 1948,
methods of investigation of agreed possible sites and plans for
first formal meeting of Commission. It might be agreed also that
certain recommendations required decisions by member governments
prior to the first formal meeting of the Commission.

5. (For New York only.)
Please discuss with Washington Embassy with a view to action
indicated in para. 3.