COPY KS:SH 

P.M.’s File No. A.349/1/2

THE CONFERENCE OF CHURCHES OF CHRIST

IN VICTORIA

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

T & G BUILDING

147 COLLINS STREET

MELBOURNE. C.1.

April 6^th, 1948.

[Stamped in red ink: 'DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS', '20 APR 1948'.]

The Rt. Hon. The Prime

Minister of Australia,

CANBERRA. [underlined] A.C.T.

Dear Sir,

I am directed to forward to you the following resolution [underlined in red] which was [begin red underline] carried at the 83^rd Annual Conference of Churches of Christ in Victoria [end underline], held in Melbourne, during the Easter period :--

[Underlined heading, later underlined in red:]"A WHITE AUSTRALIA AND IMMIGRATION:--

This Conference, while endorsing the Government’s policy of Immigration which gives priority to those of British nationality and the white races, deplores the existing offensive and unchristian colour bar which excludes orientals and colored peoples, the moral and cultural standards of whom are, in many cases, at least the equal of our own. Conference is of the opinion that the White Australia Policy of the Government should either be recast or substituted by a quota system to which nationals of other countries could not take exception."

Yours faithfully,

(SGD) W.G. GRAHAM

Secretary.

ACKNOWLEDGED

[dividing line]

COPY – E.A. [External Affairs] (ADV)

IMMIG. [Immigration] " [quote mark indicating 'ditto' under '(ADV)']

[Addressed to:] The Secretary,

Department of External Affairs.

[dividing line]

Referred, by direction, for favour of advice.

[Illegible handwritten signature]

[Stamped:] 10 APR 1948

Secretary, Prime Minister's Department.