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

790.5/11–553: Telegram

The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Aldrich) to the Department of State¹

secret

London, November 5, 1953—6 p.m.

1953. Following from Commonwealth Relations Office re Harding conversations in Australia and New Zealand.

Discussions conducted on thesis it in mutual interest have coordinated force in SEA in event war. Understood US as overwhelmingly major allied power, would play leading role in area. There was general review situation and refurnishing [refurbishing?] of existing defense arrangements in order ascertain whether everything “all buttoned up”—whether plans drawn up after World War II against possibility resurgent Japan are equally applicable against Communist China which now only conceivable aggressor. Agreement reached on military level but not yet on governmental level, although Australian and New Zealand Ministers present at conversations and gave informal concurrence to findings.

In reply to question, CRO stated conclusion reached at meeting that, until agreement reached at political level on desirability of link between ANZUS and ANZAM, it pointless attempt discussion this subject on military level.²

Aldrich

1. Repeated for information to Canberra and Wellington.
2. In despatch 150 from Canberra, Nov. 12, the Embassy stated that this conclusion was “in harmony with impressions and hints, including the slant taken by the press, that Field Marshal Sir John Harding did not feel his visit to Australia was markedly productive in a tangible fashion.” The despatch includes also a report of the views of A. S. Watt, (permanent) Secretary of the Department of External Affairs. “His reaction was that if the Harding talks were expected by Sir Winston Churchill to solve the question of British participation in ANZUS, either by a linkage between ANZUS and ANZAM at the military planning level or otherwise, the talks could indeed be considered unfruitful. Conversely, if the talks were to be appraised in their contribution to pragmatic defense planning in the South Pacific, of which a great deal remained to be done, the Harding visit was quite successful and made a definite contribution.” (790.5/11–1253)