DEPARTMENT OF STATE
 
                                           ----------------------------
 
                                                 PARAPHRASE
                                                                         CONFIDENTIAL
 
Telegram no. 220                                              Dated:   4/21/42   midnight
 
From:    CANBERRA                                       Rec'd:   4/23/42   6:17 a.m.
 
 
          TRIPLE PRIORITY.
         
          TO STETTINIUS AND McCABE FROM WASSERMAN.
 
          The special boring machine, universal boring machine,
and simplex precision and boring machine that were to be
delivered to the Oliver Farm Equipment Company for making
gear boxes and final drives for Australian tanks have been
diverted, according to information which Barnes receives 
from MacGregor.  Australian tank production, which is
about to be approved by the American Army and is ready
to begin the output of ten tanks per week, (eventually
20 when more machine tools arrive) when gear boxes and
drives are delivered here will be crippled by this di-
version.
 
          I inspected this tank production in the company of
United States and Australian ordinance officers, and as 
such production is absolutely essential to the general
plan of the Australian Army, I feel that holding this
up would be a serious mistake.  The details of the ma-
be forwarded to you, I expect, carrying the formal
approval of the High Command.
 
                                                  JOHNSON.
 
 
 
SA/E:DCB:MBJ
4/23/42.
   Copies to: Mr. Hopkins (2)
                    Mr. McCabe (1) via Stettinius
                    Mr. Stettinius (1)