Conference files, lot 59 D 95, CF 115
Memorandum by the Assistant to the Director of the Executive Secretariat (Meloy) to the Deputy Director of the Office of British Commonwealth and Northern European Affairs (Foster)
The Secretary in reading over his ANZUS Council book this weekend noted, in the last sentence of the first paragraph on page 18 of the historical background paper,1 a statement that Sir Oliver Franks had been informed2 that if as a result of talks with Australia and New Zealand it seemed desirable that the UK be brought in in some way as an observer or consultant with respect to the tripartite agreement, the United States would have no objection. The Secretary remembered his own recent discussion in London with Mr. Eden3 in which he had thrown cold water on this idea and had pointed out that, while we would be willing to discuss the matter with Australia and New Zealand, there were many serious obstacles in the way of a UK observer. This conversation was reported in Secto 45 from London of June 28.4 The Secretary has asked whether or not the difference in these two conversations indicates a change in our position and has inquired as to how this came about. He would like to know whether or not our position is firm at the moment and what it is.
Could you give him a brief memorandum on this subject which he might have before his 4:00 meeting.
- Background paper prepared by the Division of Historical Research, “References in the Negotiation of the ANZUS Treaty to Broader Security Arrangements Affecting the Pacific Area”, not printed. (Lot 59 D 95, CF 116)↩
- By Dean Rusk, then Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs, in his conversation held with Sir Oliver, Apr. 14, 1951. For partial text of a memorandum of this talk, see Foreign Relations, 1951, vol. vi, Part 1, p. 204.↩
- See extract from the summary minutes of the bipartite Foreign Ministers meeting held in London, June 28, p. 142.↩
- Not printed.↩