384 Senator R. V. Keane, Minister for Trade and Customs, to Mr
John Curtin, Prime Minister  Letter CANBERRA, 28 February 1942
As you are aware, the presence of American forces in Australia
has given rise to the question of the extension of some form of
'lend- lease' aid by Australia to the United States in
connection with expenditure on works, stores, rations etc. on
behalf of the U.S.  military authorities.  In addition to the
official cables which have been exchanged on this subject with
Mr. Casey [1], further information has been supplied by the
Director-General of Australian War Supplies Procurement, Mr. L.
R. Macgregor, in the course of recent telephone conversations
with the Director of the Division of Import Procurement, Mr. A.
C. Moore.  Mr. Macgregor said that his information had been
gained through his close personal contact with Mr. E. R.
Stettinius, the U.S.  Lend-Lease Administrator, who has direct
access to the President, and that it could be accepted as
absolutely reliable. On the other hand,