790.5/11–1551
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Regional Planning Adviser of the Bureau of Far Eastern Affairs (Emmerson)
Subject: Canadian Participation in Pacific Security Arrangements.
| Participants: | Mr. Peter Campbell, Second Secretary, Canadian Embassy, and |
| Mr. John K. Emmerson, FE |
In introducing the subject of Canada’s participation in Pacific security arrangements, Mr. Campbell stated that he wished to impress upon me that his inquiry was being made on a strictly informal basis and not on instructions from Ottawa. We should, therefore, not read into his inquiry any implications that the Canadian Government had decided it wished to adhere to a Pacific security arrangement or would make any formal proposals regarding this question. He would simply like to obtain an indication of our informal reaction to the suggestion that Canada might in some way participate in a Pacific security arrangement.
Mr. Campbell stated that the question had arisen recently in Parliament and that the Government had been queried by Conservative members with respect to Canada’s policy toward the U.S.–Australia–New Zealand Tripartite Security Pact. The Government had been asked whether Canada had applied for inclusion in this arrangement and if not, why not? Mr. Pearson had replied in general terms. It was likely that further questions might be asked and it was this prospect which impelled the Embassy to discuss the question informally with us.
I referred to the problems involved in concluding a Pacific pact, including the one of membership. We had thought that for the time being the present arrangements with Japan, the Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand were all that were called for. We would not want to be in a position of pressing other nations to join in these arrangements since we have always felt that any effective security pacts would have to be developed out of genuine interest and desire on the part of the nations who might participate in them. We were open-minded on the subject and we felt that eventually it would be highly desirable to bring Japan into security relationships with other Pacific nations. The President had, of course, stated that the arrangements which we have negotiated were the first steps toward collective security in the Pacific.
Mr. Campbell stated that he understood the very serious problem involved in the membership of a Pacific pact. He wondered specifically what our reaction would be to Canadian adherence to the tripartite agreement between the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand. I said so [Page 257] far as I knew this particular point had not been raised before. I informed Mr. Campbell that I would like to discuss his inquiry informally with other officials in the Department after which I would be glad to give him the benefit of whatever preliminary reactions we might have.