Australia, New Zealand, ANZUS, Papua New Guinea


26. Memorandum From John Holdridge of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, February 1, 1973.

Holdridge informed Kissinger of Whitlam’s recent foreign policy statements.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 504, Country Files, Far East, Australia, January 1972–December 31, 1973. Secret. Sent for information. Kissinger initialed the memorandum on March 20.


27. Memorandum From John Holdridge of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, March 1, 1973.

Holdridge informed Kissinger of Whitlam’s discussions with Suharto.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 504, Country Files, Far East, Australia, January 1972–December 31, 1973. Secret. Sent for information. Kissinger initialed the memorandum on March 20.


28. Information Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (Green) to Secretary of State Rogers, Washington, March 3, 1973.

Green notified Rogers of improvements in relations between Australia and North Korea.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–1973, POL AUSTL–KOR N. Secret; Exdis. Drafted by Picard. Concurred in by Sneider and Ranard in EA/K and Hall in EA/ANZ.


29. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rogers to President Nixon, Washington, March 16, 1973.

Rogers reported on his conversation with Plimsoll.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 504, Country Files, Far East, Australia, January 1972–December 31, 1973. Secret.


30. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, May 2, 1973, 5:40–6:35 p.m.

Kissinger and Wilenski discussed U.S.-Australian relations.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 504, Country Files, Far East, Australia, January 1972–December 31, 1973. Secret. The conversation took place in Kissinger’s Office at the White House. Kissinger’s talking points from Froebe, May 2, are ibid. Following the meeting, Kissinger instructed Rodman to send Nixon a proposal for a visit by Whitlam. (Memorandum from Rodman to Kissinger, May 3; ibid. [secret])


31. Précis of National Intelligence Estimate 44-73, Washington, May 17, 1973.

[2 pages not declassified.]

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 362, Subject Files, National Intelligence Estimates [1 of 3]. Secret.


32. Telegram 3139 From the Embassy in Australia to the Department of State, June 6, 1973, 0820Z.

Green described his and Barnard’s discussion about a possible visit by Whitlam to the United States.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–1973, POL 7 AUSTL. Confidential; Nodis. Kissinger approved a memorandum from Froebe, July 6, which approved a draft State cable directing Green to respond orally to a confidential letter of June 15 from Australian opposition party leaders recommending that Nixon receive Whitlam. (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 504, Country Files, Far East, Australia, January 1972-December 31, 1973)


33. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, June 8, 1973.

Hay and Godley discussed the future of Papua New Guinea.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–1973, POL 19 NEW GUIN. Confidential. Drafted by Martin. On May 22, the Embassy in Australia transmitted telegram 2850 about the future of Papua New Guinea. (Ibid., Central Foreign Policy Files.)


34. Memorandum From John Froebe of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Washington, July 11, 1973.

Froebe advised Kissinger not to meet separately with Whitlam.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 910, VIP Visits, Australia, PM. Whitlam Visit, July, 1973 [2 of 2]. Secret. Sent for action. Concurred in by Eagleburger. Kissinger initialed his disapproval of the recommendation.


35. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, July 25, 1973, 5:04–5:28 p.m.

Kissinger and Plimsoll discussed Whitlam’s upcoming visit.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 504, Country Files, Far East, Australia, January 1972–December 31, 1973. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only.


36. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, July 28, 1973, 12:30 p.m.

Kissinger and Green discussed U.S.-Australian relations.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 910, VIP Visits, Australia, PM. Whitlam Visit, July, 1973 [1 of 2]. Secret; Sensitive. The conversation took place at the White House. Drafted by Froebe.


37. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, July 30, 1973, 10–11 a.m.

Kissinger and Whitlam discussed U.S.-Australian relations with particular emphasis on Indochina.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 910, VIP Visits, Australia, PM. Whitlam Visit, July, 1973[1 of 2]. Secret; Sensitive. The conversation took place in Kissinger’s office at the White House. Froebe sent this memorandum of conversation to Kissinger under a covering memorandum, August 9. (Ibid.)


38. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, July 30, 1973.

Nixon and Whitlam discussed U.S.-Australian relations.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 910, VIP Visits, Australia, PM. Whitlam Visit, July, 1973, folder 7. “Top Secret” is handwritten on the top of the first page. The President’s Daily Diary indicates that the meeting lasted from 11:15 a.m. until 12:33 p.m. (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Central Files, President’s Daily Diary) Drafted by Green. Nixon’s undated talking points from Kissinger, which the President saw, are ibid. [1 of 2]. Rogers sent a briefing memorandum to the President On July 26. (Ibid., RG 59, Central Files 1970–1973, POL 7 AUSTL)


39. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, July 31, 1973.

Rogers and Whitlam discussed the international relations of East Asia.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–1973, POL 7 AUSTL. Secret; Exdis. Drafted by Moser; cleared by Sneider and Green.


40. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon, Washington, September 27, 1973.

Kissinger reported on Kirk’s speech to the United Nations General Assembly.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 934, VIP Visits, New Zealand, Prime Minister Kirk [1 of 2]. Confidential. Sent for information.


41. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, September 27, 1973.

Nixon and Kirk discussed relations between the United States and New Zealand.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 1027, Presidential/HAK Memcoms, April–November 1973, HAK & Presidential [2 of 5]. Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. Undated talking points from Kissinger, initialed by Scowcroft and seen by the President, are ibid., Box 934, VIP Visits, New Zealand, Prime Minister Kirk, Folder 4.


43. Letter From Acting Secretary of State Rush to Secretary of Defense Schlesinger, Washington, December 21, 1973.

Rush communicated to Schlesinger the importance of Barnard’s visit.

Source: Washington National Records Center, OSD Files: FRC 330–78–0001, Australia, 091.112, 1973. Secret. On bottom of the first page “22 Dec 1973. Sec Def has seen” is stamped, Rush received this letter for his signature under a covering memorandum from Sneider dated December 20. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–1973, POL 7 AUSTL)


44. Memorandum From W.R. Smyser of the National Security Council Staff to Secretary of State Kissinger, Washington, January 3, 1974.

Smyser reported on a recent conversation with Marshall Green.

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 505, Country Files, Far East, Box 505, Australia, 1 January 1974–. Secret; Sensitive; Eyes, Only. Sent for action. Kissinger initialed his approval of recommendations 1, 3, and 4, and his disapproval of recommendation 5. He left recommendation 2 blank.


45. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, January 9, 1974, 11:30–1:15.

Schlesinger and Barnard discussed U.S. facilities in Australia, U.S.-Australian relations, and visits by nuclear powered warships.

Source: Washington National Records Center, OSD Files: FRC 330–78–0011, Australia, 091.112, 1974. Secret. Prepared by Doolin and approved by Peet. The conversation took place in Schlesinger’s office. A memorandum of conversation from Schlesinger’s meeting with Marshall Green, which lasted from 9:55 until 11:05 and included discussion of Japan and U.S. facilities in Australia, is ibid.


47. Telegram 1262 From the Embassy in Australia to the Department of State, March 2, 1974, 0255Z.

Rush described his meeting with Whitlam.

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box CL 105, Australia, March–August, 1974. Secret; Cherokee; Nodis.


48. Minutes of the Acting Secretary of State’s Staff Meeting, Washington, June 14, 1974, 3:10 p.m.

Ingersoll and Sisco discussed the election of Cairns as Deputy Prime Minister.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Transcripts of Secretary of State Kissinger’s Staff Meetings, 1973–1977, Entry 5177, Box 3. Secret. At the June 21 meeting, Hummel said that EA had changed its attitude toward Cairns’ election: “we think that the problem is really not our problem to solve. For one reason, we do not in fact give clearances for individuals in the Australian Government for the sensitive intelligence and defense installations. The Australian Government does that itself and tells us afterwards. So it is not up to us to clear or not clear Mr. Cairns. The problem is really the Prime Minister’s problem to solve. And I think this is the proper and mature approach. So that we don’t tear down the relationships we have by arbitrary action on our part, so that we don’t engage in spooky fiddling with the situation, in which we might get caught—in some of the other proposals that have been made. They are logical to consider, but we think not logical to carry out.” (Minutes of Under Secretary Sisco’s Staff Meeting, June 21, 3 p.m.; Ibid., Box 4)


49. National Security Study Memorandum 204, Washington, July 1, 1974.

NSSM 204 directed the CIA and the Departments of State and Defense to review U.S. policy toward Australia in light of recent changes in the Labor Government.

Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Container CL 316, National Security Council, National Security Memoranda, Studies, June 1973–September 1974. Secret; Sensitive; Nodis. Hummel, the Acting Chairman of the Interdepartmental Group for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, sent Kissinger the response to NSSM 204 on August 5, 1974. The study recommended preservation of the ANZUS alliance, encouragement of Australia’s stabilizing role as a regional power, and encouragement of “Australian foreign policies that harmonize with, rather than undercut, those of the US.” The study also advocated maintenance of US access to defense installations in Australia and careful regard for political pressure that may require their eventual relocation. The study is attached to a memorandum on NSSM 204 from Smyser to Kissinger, August 22, in the Ford Library, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–12, Institutional Files, Meetings (IFM), SRG Meeting, August 15, 1974, Australia, NSSM 204 [1]) There is no evidence that the SRG met to discuss NSSM 204.


50. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, August 1, 1974, 5 p.m.

[text not declassified in time for publication]

Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, NSC Staff for East Asia & Pacific Affairs, Convenience Files, Box 1, Australia, February–September 1974 [1]. Top Secret; Sensitive. The meeting took place in the White House.


51. Telegram 6178 From the Embassy in Australia to the Department of State, September 20, 1974, 0607Z.

The Embassy provided advice for Ford’s meeting with Whitlam.

Source: National Archives, Record Group 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Confidential; Priority; Exdis.


53. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, February 7, 1975, 1600–1645.

Green and Schlesinger discussed US-Australian relations.

Source: Washington National Records Center, OSD Files: FRC 330–78–0058, Australia, 091.112, 1975. Top Secret. Drafted and approved by Crowe. The conversation took place in Schlesinger’s office.


54. Telegram 97105 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Australia, April 26, 1975, 0054Z.

The telegram described the ANZUS Council meeting held in Washington on April 24 and 25.

Source: National Archives, Record Group 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Confidential; Priority. Repeated for information to Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, Geneva, USUN New York, Vientiane, Jakarta, Port Moresby, London, Paris, Manila, Tokyo and CINCPAC. Drafted by Michaud, officer for the ANZUS desk; and approved by Zurhellen. The memorandum of conversation recounting Kissinger’s remarks at the afternoon session of April 24 is ibid., P–820125–0600.


55. Memorandum of Conversation, Washington, May 7, 1975.

Kissinger and Rowling discussed U.S.-New Zealand relations.

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, P–820125–0393. Secret; Nodis. Drafted by Knowles and approved by Covey. According to his daily diary, Ford met with Rowling from 11:06 a.m. until 12:08 p.m. on May 7. (Ford Library, Staff Secretary’s Office, President’s Daily Diary) During this meeting, Ford stated that the United States would continue to play a major role in the Pacific despite the fall of South Vietnam, but that it might reexamine its defense commitments if South Pacific nations enact a restrictive nuclear free zone. The memorandum of conversation from this Rowling-Ford meeting is in Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Memoranda of Conversation, Box 11.