790.5/12–853: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Aldrich) to the Department of State1
2499. Embtel 1953 November 5.2
- 1.
- Commonwealth Relations Office is confidential source of following
information on how Commonwealth plans are shaping up for defense of Far
East.
- (a)
- It is envisaged that, whenever it is possible to withdraw the Commonwealth division from Korea, a Commonwealth defense force comprising two Australian infantry battalions, with supporting Commonwealth air and naval units, will be permanently stationed in Singapore area. It is believed that such a force in being would be a major deterrent to further Communist aggression in Asia and that if aggression does occur it will be of immeasurable value to have a concentrated force ready for action on the briefest notice. In committing itself so strongly to the defense of Southeast Asia, Australia has made it known that Australian forces will no longer be made available for defense of Middle East. It is understood that this plan has the approval of the Chiefs of Staff of Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. It is planned that on the Prime Minister’s return from Bermuda, the plan will be placed before the Cabinet here. Once the Cabinet has approved, the UK will officially inform the US.
- (b)
- At some time in not too distant future UK hopes that five-power staff agency in Southeast Asia will develop into a political and military command structure along NATO lines for Southeast Asia. Value of the present agency is well understood, but it lacks political direction. There has been some pressure here for expedition of its development into a NATO format, but it has been deemed that from a political point of view time not yet ripe. It is being tentatively suggested that other SEA nations, e.g., Thailand and perhaps Philippines, might apply for membership in such an organization their qualifications being, inter alia, willingness resist aggression and ability supply competent forces in event emergency.
- 2.
- UKG assumes that sooner or later US may wish to give its blessing to establishment of closer defense relationship between armed forces of South Korea, Formosa, and Japan under American leadership. Because of obvious political difficulties involved, no thought would be given by Commonwealth in normal circumstances to integration these forces with those mentioned in paragraph 1 (b) above. In event further Communist aggression in Asia, however, Commonwealth would be less inclined look askance at undesirable [Page 358] political bedfellows and would welcome assistance from whatever source.
Embassy comment: Information on which immediately preceding paragraph is based is less firm than that contained in paragraph 1, but hints that thinking along these lines is relatively far advanced have been received over a period of months from diverse sources, including Foreign Office, Commonwealth Relations Office, and Australia House. Some reference to the above plans may have already been made by UK representatives at Bermuda (Embtel 2296 November 27).3
Department may wish inform interested offices.4
- Repeated for information to Paris. Repeated to Canberra and Wellington by airgram on Dec. 9.↩
- Ante, p. 353.↩
- Not printed.↩
In telegram 3198 from London, Jan. 27, the Embassy reported learning from the Commonwealth Relations Office that the “British Cabinet members concerned have given approval to Harding program for new area responsibilities of Australia and New Zealand Armed Forces (Embassy despatch 2462, January 19) and Canberra and Wellington have been so informed.” In despatch 2462, the Embassy commented as follows: “The implementation of this program involves the transfer from the United Kingdom to Australia of the primary responsibility for the defense of Commonwealth interests in Southeast Asia.” (790.5/1–1954)
The Embassy also indicated in telegram 3198 that the United Kingdom anticipated an early favorable response from Australia and New Zealand. (790.5/1–2754)
↩