Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–12, Documents on East and Southeast Asia, 1973–1976

58. Telegram 260731 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Australia, November 4, 1975, 1706Z.¹ ²

November 4, 1975, 1706Z

TELEGRAM
Department of State
STATE 260731

O R 041706Z NOV 75

FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO AMEMBASSY CANBERRA IMMEDIATE
INFO AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON
AMCONSUL MELBOURNE
AMCONSUL SYDNEY
CINCPAC HONOLULU HI

STATE 260731

E.O. 11652: GDS
TAGS: PFOR, AS

SUBJECT: WHITLAM ACCUSES ANTHONY OF RECEIVING CIA MONEY
REF:A.CANBERRA 7343 B. CANBERRA 7411

CINCPAC FOR POLAD

1. YOU ARE AUTHORIZED TO APPROACH THE GOA TODAY AT THE HIGHEST AVAILABLE LEVEL, CATEGORICALLY DENYING ON BEHALF OF THE USG THAT THE CIA PAID MONEY TO THE NATIONAL COUNTRY PARTY OR ITS LEADER DOUGLAS ANTHONY. NEITHER THE CIA NOR ANY OTHER US AGENCY HAS GIVEN OR PASSED FUNDS TO ANY AUSTRALIAN POLITICAL PARTY OR CANDIDATE FOR AUSTRALIAN POLITICAL OFFICE.

2. YOU SHOULD ADD THAT, AS A MATTER OF STANDING PRACTICE, THE USG NEITHER CONFIRMS NOR DENIES PUBLICLY ALLEGATIONS OF THE TYPE REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN MADE BY THE PRIME MINISTER. THE USG REGRETS, HOWEVER, THAT SUCH A CHARGE AGAINST NCP LEADER ANTHONY, IF CORRECTLY REPORTED, COULD HAVE DAMAGING FALLOUT ON OTHER ASPECTS OF US-AUSTRALIAN RELATIONS.

3. RESPONSE TO INQUIRIES FROM MEDIA SHOULD BE ONE OF NO COMMENT, NOTING THAT AS MATTER OF POLICY USG DOES NOT COMMENT ON ALLEGATIONS OF THIS TYPE. KISSINGER

1. Source: National Archives, Record Group 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Confidential; Immediate. Repeated for information to Wellington, Melbourne, Sydney, and CINCPAC. Telegram 7446 from Canberra, November 5, reported that this directive was accomplished.
2. The Department of State instructed the Canberra Embassy to deny accusations that the US government had given donations to Australian politicians.