 Berendsen served as the country's first High Commissioner to Australia, from 1943 until 1944; this was to improve relations with Australia (John Curtin) and for health reasons because of Fraser's notoriously disorganised work habits.He was then transferred to Washington, D.C., where he served as Minister to the United States between 1944 and 1952.In late 1967 he was appointed as member of the team headed by UN envoy Gunnar Jarring to establish peace in the Middle East following the Six-Day War.