396.1 MA/9–854: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Australia1
priority
[Unnumbered.] Eyes only Ambassador. Casey notified Secretary by telephone just before final session SEA Conference that he had been instructed by his government to sign treaty with specific reservation, analogous to that entered by US, to general effect that Australia would act under provision of treaty only if aggression was of Communist origin. During morning session September 8 [Page 901] Philippines expressed in closed session desire to enter similar reservation and it then became clear that the conference might fail if they did so. With great effort they were dissuaded.
Casey asked Secretary if he could effect postponement of final session scheduled for 4:00 p.m. Secretary replied he could not do so since his schedule required him proceed Taipei and Tokyo September 9. Secretary went on to describe consequences Australia’s announcing reservation at last minute as likely to cause chain reaction possibly disastrous to conference. Secretary pointed out that faced with vacillation on the part of certain our European allies we hoped for steadfast performance on the part of Australia whom we consider one of four most stalwart allies. Australia reservation would be followed by similar reservations on the part of Philippines, New Zealand and Thailand and that since UK, France and Pakistan would continue to take opposite position, conference would in fact split irrevocably. Casey said that his government would permit him to sign without the reservation if he was convinced that the conference would otherwise break down. Secretary encouraged Casey to omit the reservation. Webb confirmed Secretary’s estimate serious consequences Australian reservation and also encouraged Casey to sign and to make appropriate references to fact that treaty must of course be ratified by Australian Parliament in consonance Australia constitutional processes. This Casey agreed to do2 and did effectively and gracefully.
Casey, incidentally, and the Australian delegation as a whole have been extremely helpful during entire conference and have worked in complete harmony with US delegation.