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

790.5/7–2452

Memorandum From the Australian Embassy to the Department of State¹

secret
Australian Document A1/7

Washington, July 24, 1952.

Australia–New Zealand–United States Pacific Security Council

first meeting honolulu august 1952

Relationship with NATO

In view of the fact that resistance to Communist expansion in the Pacific region is only one facet of the global campaign against Communist imperialism, with which all three parties have identified themselves, there might be advantages in working out the roles of the three Parties in joint security within the global context.

2. Apart from the United Nations, which is not well adapted to specific military planning for the maintenance of international peace and security, there is no universal organization which can define global strategy. The United States by virtue of its participation in other regional organizations is fully informed on planning in those regions. Australia, on the other hand, is not a member of such bodies as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and has no right of access to information regarding NATO decisions.

3. It is therefore suggested that means should be found to enable Australia to receive information regarding NATO developments, particularly those which have a direct bearing upon Australian interests. Consideration might also be given to the best way to enable Australia, when NATO is dealing with matters affecting the interests of Australia, to express its views to NATO.

1. This memorandum is one of several attachments to the Embassy’s note No. 399/52, presented to Foster by David W. McNicol, First Secretary of Embassy, on July 24.