[Stamp in red ink with the capitalised word 'SECRET'] 

Melbourne, 16th February, 1925. 

[Capitalised] IMPERIAL 

[Capitalised] CHAPELRIES 

[Capitalised] LONDON 

[A coded message comprising forty-three capitalised ten-letter ‘words’ made up of apparently random letters, except for the eighth 'word', which is 'ADELIELAND'.] 

De-Code:– 

The Secretary of State for the Colonies, 

LONDON. 

Secret. With reference to my telegram of 4th December, 1924, Antarctic regions, according to press reports French Government promulgated decree 27th November last annexing Adelie Land. This appears to be step additional to decree of 27th March, 1924. My Ministers would be glad to learn present position and limits, if any, French Government has assigned to territory over which it has asserted rights. Ministers point out that Australia’s interest in this part of Antarctic is very great owing to exploration work undertaken by Australians and to whaling resources of adjacent waters, and they feel that British discovery and exploration confer definite rights on Empire over this territory which should be of sufficient weight to be serious counter-claim to French claim. 

GOVERNOR-GENERAL.