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

790.5/9–2853

Memorandum by the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the Secretary of Defense (Wilson)¹

secret

Washington, 8 September 1953.

Subject:

• Participation of the United Kingdom in the Australia–New Zealand-United States (ANZUS) Council.

1. In response to the request contained in the memorandum by the Assistant Secretary of Defense (ISA) dated 31 August 1953, subject as above, the comments and recommendations of the Joint Chiefs of Staff with respect to the question of possible United Kingdom participation in ANZUS are furnished herewith.

2. As you know, the ANZUS Council, at its first meeting at Kaneohe in August 1952, decided that the difficulties which would attend United Kingdom participation in ANZUS, either in an observer status or otherwise, would outweigh the advantages of such participation. The Joint Chiefs of Staff are of the opinion that there has been no change in circumstances since that time which would now justify a modification of that decision. The factors which then influenced the action of the Council still prevail.

3. Under the provisions of Article VIII of the ANZUS Treaty authorizing the Council “… to maintain a consultative relationship with States, Regional Organizations, Associations of States or other authorities in the Pacific area in a position to further the purposes of this treaty…,” and in accordance with the agreement reached at the first meeting of the Council to the effect that the United Kingdom should be kept fully and currently informed of the Council’s proceedings, the United Kingdom has, on the military level, been kept fully advised of the activities of the ANZUS Military Representatives, who are an integral part of the ANZUS Council organization.

4. Since there has been a free flow of information to the United Kingdom concerning ANZUS military planning, it would appear that the various suggestions for liaison between the United Kingdom and ANZUS on the military level have been motivated by considerations pertaining to prestige or to internal politics. If such is the case, it is unlikely that the desires of the United Kingdom in this connection could be satisfied without a public announcement of the liaison arrangements. It is believed that such an announcement would lead directly to the difficulties which were visualized by the Council. The Joint Chiefs of Staff can perceive of no means of providing for overt United Kingdom participation in ANZUS on the military level which would not involve the same jeopardy to the success of ANZUS which was foreseen when this matter was considered at the initial meeting of the Council.

5. The Joint Chiefs of Staff therefore recommend that the Department of Defense continue to take the position that, in the absence of circumstances which significantly alter the situation, the Government of the United Kingdom should not be invited to send an observer to attend ANZUS Council meetings or otherwise participate in ANZUS.

For the Joint Chiefs of Staff:

Arthur Radford
Chairman
Joint Chiefs of Staff

1. The Department of State copy of this letter is attached to a covering letter of Sept. 28 by Halaby, who stated that the memorandum had been prepared in response to the Department’s letter of Aug. 21, p. 335. Halaby concluded: “It is understood that the Secretary of Defense informed the Secretary of State concerning the subject Joint Chiefs of Staff memorandum, and of his concurrence with same, prior to consideration of this matter at the ANZUS Council on Sept. 10.”