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Background Memoranda Prepared in the Department of State 1

secret

I. Importance of Prime Minister Robert Menzies’ Visit

united states interests in australia

Our interests in Australia arise from the fact that it is an important member of the British Commonwealth, basically friendly toward the United States, sharing the same democratic traditions and aspirations and aligned with us in the present struggle against communist imperialism. Australia, as a loyal member of the Commonwealth, has contributed to the economic recovery of the United Kingdom and by so doing has furthered our own objectives in this respect.

We recognize that Australia’s economic development, in addition to the bearing which it has on British recovery, enhances the role which Australia can play in military matters in the Pacific. Our cooperation with Australia in World War II was particularly close, and we could expect such cooperation in any future conflict to be of comparable value. The prompt reaction of Australia to the invasion of Korea and the unanimous vote of approval given by the Australian parliament to the military measures taken by the Government afford a good indication of the close identity of views between the United States and Australia on matters of fundamental importance.

Australia is vitally interested in the future of Japan, has taken an active part in the Far Eastern Commission and at the present [Page 201] time supplies all the personnel constituting the British Commonwealth Occupation Forces in Japan. We are naturally interested in achieving the greatest possible measure of Australian understanding and support for our policies relating to Japan.

Australia is very conscious of the dangers of communist expansion in South East Asia. Australian initiation of plans for Commonwealth technical and economic assistance in this area was prompted in the first instance by a desire to ameliorate conditions of poverty and underdevelopment which are conducive to the spread of communism. We, of course, share the Australian interest in maintaining the stability of this area.

attitude of present australian government toward united states

Since the coming to power in December, 1949 of the Liberal-Country Party coalition, there has been a marked change in the attitude of the Australian government toward the United States. The change results from an altered emphasis in Australian foreign policy. The previous Labor government, in which Dr. Evatt was Minister for External Affairs, tended to neglect United States-Australian relations, or in any case to subordinate them to a foreign policy which found its primary expression in the United Nations.

The government of Prime Minister Menzies, however, has made the achievement of close relations with the United States a cardinal point of Australian foreign policy. Leading members of the government have repeatedly stated that it is essential for Australia to maintain the best possible relations with the United States and, in so far as possible, to initiate and carry out Pacific policies in cooperation with this country.

The explanation for this emphasis on United States-Australian relations lies in the keener appreciation by the Menzies government of the dangers to Australian security attendant upon communist advances in Asia. The leaders of the Australian government are well aware that Australia alone, or even in conjunction with the United Kingdom, does not have the power to ensure its own safety. This being the case, the Menzies government has determined that, given present circumstances, Australian security interests will be best served by close association with the United States. The Minister for External Affairs, Mr. Percy Spender, expressed this idea in his first foreign policy speech. At that time he went so far as to state that it was the objective of his government to build up with the United States somewhat the same relationship as exists within the British Commonwealth.

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  1. The source text bears a cover sheet with the following title: “Background Memoranda on Visit to the United States of the Right Honorable Robert G. Menzies Prime Minister of Australia July 1950.” A copy of this “Background Memoranda” was sent to President Truman on July 26 for his “information and reference.” References in other papers in the files of the Department of State indicate that this compendium was prepared by the Bureau of European Affairs with the assistance of the Bureau of Far Eastern Affairs.

    The text of only three of the 32 double-spaced, typewritten pages of the source text are presented here. Part II (four pages in length) consisted of biographic sketches of Prime Minister Menzies and members of his party. Part III was a brief, one-page summary of the political situation in Australia. Part IV (four pages in the source text) was a review of Australian foreign policy with particular reference to Australian relations with China, Japan, New Guinea, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the United Nations. The points made in Part IV are covered in greater detail in the Policy Statement on Australia, April 21, p. 189. Part V (18 pages in the source text) reviewed in some detail the main topics which Prime Minister Menzies might wish to discuss. These included the question of a Pacific Pact, military cooperation in Korea, the Australian offer of base facilities on Manus Island, the release of classified military information to Australia, the Japanese peace treaty, the Australian immigration program, and dollar financing of Australian economic development. The principal recommendations on all these topics are set forth in Assistant Secretary Perkins’ memorandum of July 27 to the Secretary of State, infra.