Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Your 983. [1]
1. Regarding the South Seas Commission my feeling is that in all
the circumstances including shortness of time, the first
conference to establish the South Seas Commission, which will [be]
on the official not the ministerial level, should be limited to
the three British Commonwealth Nations who in London agreed to
establish the Commission. [2]
2. If the United States, France or Netherlands informally express
a desire to be associated we could extend formal invitations. It
is important not to invite those whose acceptance is at all
uncertain.
3. Subject to 2, I have no objection whatever to the participation
of the Netherlands.
4. If the United States, France and the Netherlands do not attend
the first meeting, the Commission could subsequently consider
extending the area of participation.