890.20/3–2949
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Douglas) to the Secretary of State
No. 540
[Received April 6.]
Sir: I have the honor to report that the British press has published, in recent weeks, several despatches from Australia regarding statements made by Prime Minister Chifley, Defense Minister Dedman and Lord Listowel, Minister of State for the Colonies, concerning a Pacific Defense Pact similar to the North Atlantic Treaty. Several officers of the Embassy have looked into this matter and their conclusions are that the present discussion of a Pacific Defense Pact originated with certain Australian politicians, although it is known that Foreign Secretary Bevin has had the idea of an “Eastern Union” in mind for some time past.
In talks with Mr. Dening of the Foreign Office, the following points were adduced by one side or the other:
- (1)
- The North Atlantic Treaty presupposes a group of nations; with common interests and ideals. It would be difficult to find such a group in the Pacific outside of the United States, the British Dominions and the Philippines.
- (2)
- The North Atlantic Treaty specifies that the nations signatory thereto shall be capable of “continuous and effective self-help and mutual aid.” It would be difficult to find nations with these qualifications in the Pacific outside of the United States, the British Dominions, and possibly the Philippines.
- (3)
- In the Pacific there are also the French in French Indo-China, the United Kingdom in Malaya and North Borneo, and the Dutch in [Page 1134] Indonesia. These Colonial Powers have our concept of civilization and in general our customs and ideals. To bring them into a Pacific Defense Pact, however, would open us to the accusation that we are underwriting the British, French and Dutch colonial policies, which it is certain that the American people do not wish to do and do not wish to be accused of doing.
An officer of the Embassy therefore pointed out to Dening that it does not appear possible to have a Pacific Pact similar to the North Atlantic Treaty except between the United States, the British Dominions, and possibly the Philippines. The United States is already underwriting the security of the Philippines and, therefore, the Pact proposed by Australia would simply mean that the United States would guarantee the security of the British Dominions in the Pacific. Dening said that the proposed Pact in fact “boiled down” to a desire by Australia that the United States should underwrite its security, and added that it was “only human” for Australia to desire this. Dening also said that some other type of Pact may be possible, such as that mentioned by President Quirino of the Philippines, who is advocating a Pact to combat Communism in the Far East.
There has been considerable comment in the British press regarding alleged conversations between the four envoys recently sent to the Dominions and the Dominion Governments regarding a Pacific Defense Pact. Such newspaper reports have been denied by the Canadian Government and by Sir Girja Bajpai, the Secretary General for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of India. The Embassy has also been informed, both by the Foreign Office and by the Commonwealth Relations Office, that they know nothing of any conversations regarding a Pacific Defense Pact between the envoys sent abroad and Dominion Governments. Dening of the Foreign Office said that the whole thing seems to be a “pipe dream” of Australian politicians and newspapermen.
Respectfully yours,
Counselor of Embassy