Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, East Asia and the Pacific, Volume XII, Part 1

790.5/6–1253: Telegram

The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Holmes) to the Department of State¹

top secret

London, June 12, 1953—5 p.m.

6537. During general conversation on recent Commonwealth meetings² Frank Corner Counselor New Zealand House stated subject of ANZUS raised in special meeting of UK, NZ, and Australia. At opening of meeting, Churchill vague and uncertain of topic under consideration. Later, consulting notes of previous meeting with Holland and Menzies, he worked himself up into considerable dither over noninclusion of UK. Corner would not comment on outcome and reticent re reactions of NZ and Australian Prime Ministers, but guessed Churchill would raise question with Eisenhower before fall meeting of council.

Corner commented that while he agreed there were “details” on which UK had reason to expect information, Churchill’s position almost solely motivated by concern over political prestige. Specifically, Prime Minister dislikes idea of NZ and Australia moving closer to US unchaperoned by mother country.

Holmes

1. Repeated for information to Canberra and Wellington.
2. A meeting of the Commonwealth Prime Ministers took place in London June 3–9.