[Letterhead: 'DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS', 'INWARD CABLEGRAM'.]

[Right margin is shaded in red with black text 'CONFIDENTIAL'.]

JF

FROM

AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSION

LONDON [underlined.]

I.20171

DATED 11/3/68

1805 LT

REC’D [received] 12/3/68

0609 LT

[Underlined heading:] 3955 RESTRICTED

FOR IMMIGRATION

FROM KIDDLE

EDITOR MASS CIRCULATION LONDON EVENING NEWS INTENDS TO GIVE PROMINENT SPACE TO FOLLOWING LETTER FROM PRIVATE CITIZEN J. POWELL OF CHISWICK;

"WITH REFERENCE TO THE INTENSIVE ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN AT PRESENT BEING CONDUCTED BY WAY OF OUR NATIONAL PRESS AND TELEVISION, FOR [underlined text] SKILLED BRITISH TRADES PEOPLE [end underlined text], BY THE AUSTRALIAN DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION.

IT IS A FACT THAT NO APPLICATIONS WILL BE CONSIDERED FROM COLOURED PERSONS OF BRITISH BIRTH.

THIS IS A CASE OF A FOREIGN POWER CONDUCTING A BLATANT AND VICIOUS FORM OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION AND I AM VERY SURPRISED THAT NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN UNDER THE RACE RELATIONS ACT.

THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD IMMEDIATELY INSTITUTE PROCEEDING AGAINST THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT.

THIS COUNTRY HAS LARGELY CONTRIBUTED TO THE EXPANSION AND PROSPERITY IN AUSTRALIA AND, THEREFORE WE SHOULD DEMAND THAT OUR CITIZENS BE TREATED WITH EQUALITY, REGARDLESS OF COLOUR OR CREED."

EDITOR WOULD PREFER TO APPEND A BRIEF REPLY FROM US (MINISTER, IF POSSIBLE) AND WILL DELAY PUBLICATION OF LETTER PENDING YOUR ADVICE.

[Dividing line.]

MIN. & DEPT. IMMIGRATION (T.T.) [Minister and Department of Immigration.]

MIN. & DEPT. E.A. [Minister and Department of External Affairs.]

P.M.S [Prime Minister's.]

12/3/68

[Handwritten in blue ink: 'Mr Pearson', followed by illegible signature.]

[Handwritten in black ink:] Could you follow up with Immigration? [Illegible signature.] 20/3

[Handwritten in blue ink:] Mr. E.L. Charles, Immigration handling this. Mr Pearson will speak to him personally. J 22/3/68