TOP SECRET 18 November 1947
CO-OPERATION IN BRITISH COMMONWEALTH DEFENCE: DIRECTIVES TO DEFENCE REPRESENTATIVES IN UNITED KINGDOM AND UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Agendum No.127/1947 Supplement No.5
Introduction:
In Minute No.325/1947 the Defence Committee directed, inter alia, that the Joint Planning Committee should consider and report whether any instructions in the form of directives to the Defence Representatives in London and Washington are required to cover matters additional to those contained in Parts III and IV of the Australian Government’s Memorandum on Co-operation in British Commonwealth Defence.
Report by Joint Planning Committee:
2. The Defence Committee had before it Report No.53/1947 by the Joint Planning Committee, in which the adoption of proposed directives, attached as Appendices ‘A’ and ‘B’ to the Report, was recommended.
Consideration:
3. Whilst the Defence Committee assumed that prior to taking up their appointments, the Defence Representatives in the United Kingdom and the United States of America would be made acquainted, inter alia, with the contents of the Australian Government’s Memorandum No. 1-Co-operation in British Commonwealth Defence, the Committee felt that it was desirable for the Representatives to be furnished with specific directives based on the duties outlined in Parts III and IV of the Memorandum.
4. The Defence Committee expressed the view that it should be clearly indicated in the directives that the Defence Representatives in the United Kingdom and the United States of America would be responsible for dealing with all matters of a Defence Policy or Joint Service nature and for effecting such co- ordination as is necessary with the Australian Representative in the respective countries.
Conclusion:
5. In the light of the foregoing the Defence Committee concluded that instructions in the form of directives to the Defence Representatives in the United Kingdom and the United States of America should be issued on the lines set out in the attached Appendices ‘A’ and ‘B’.
F.A. MCLAUGHLIN Secretary Defence Committee
Appendix A
PROPOSED DIRECTIVE TO THE AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE REPRESENTATIVE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
1. You will be the Accredited Representative of the Australian Defence Department, the Defence Committee, and the Chiefs of Staff Committee, to their corresponding bodies in the United Kingdom.
2. You will be the authority in the United Kingdom responsible for dealing with all matters of a Defence Policy or Joint Service nature and for effecting such coordination as is necessary with the Australian Service Representatives in the United Kingdom.
3. You will advise the Australian High Commissioner in the United Kingdom on questions of Defence Policy and of general Joint Service interest, after such consultation as is necessary with the Australian Service Representatives.
4. You will keep the Australian Service Representatives informed of Joint Service matters which are under consideration on a Defence Department level when such matters are of interest to them, and consult them where necessary, when individual Service interests are involved.
5. You will maintain liaison on matters of Defence interest with representatives in the United Kingdom of the Australian Munitions Department, and other appropriate Australian Governmental instrumentalities in the United Kingdom.
6. Your channel of communication will be between the Secretary, Department of Defence, and yourself. You will also communicate direct with the Defence Representative in the United States as may be necessary, but the use of this channel shall not short circuit the use of the primary channel to the Defence Department in respect of matters for which the responsibility rests with the Department, and on which it should co-ordinate action between the United Kingdom and the United States.
Where the preparation of detailed plans is involved, an exchange of information and views at planning levels may be desirable.
Where such is the case, direct consultation and communication at a planning level will be authorised by the Australian Minister for Defence in respect of specific tasks.
7. You will be guided in the exercise of the above functions by the contents of the Australian Government’s Memorandum No. 1-Co- operation in British Commonwealth Defence, a copy of which is attached hereto.
8. You will find a copy of the directive to the Defence Representative in the United States also attached hereto for your information.
Appendix B
PROPOSED DIRECTIVE TO THE AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE REPRESENTATIVE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
1. You will be the Accredited Representative of the Australian Defence Department, the Defence Committee, and the Chiefs of Staff Committee to the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff, and to the Combined Chiefs of Staff if this body continues to exist in the post-war period.
2. You will be the authority in the United States of America responsible for dealing with all matters of a Defence Policy or Joint Service nature and for effecting such co-ordination as is necessary with the Australian Naval and Air Attaches and the Australian Military Mission in the United States of America hereinafter referred to as the ‘Australian Service Representatives’.
3. You will act in an advisory capacity on Defence or Service matters to the Australian Delegation at the United Nations Organisation.
4. You will represent Australia on the Military Staff Committee of the United Nations Organisation if, and when, invited.
5. You will advise the Australian Ambassador in the United States of America on questions of Defence Policy, and of general Joint Service interest, after such consultation as is necessary with the Australian Service Representatives.
6. You will keep the Australian Service Representatives informed of Joint Service matters which are under consideration on a Defence Department level when such matters are of interest to them, and consult them where necessary, when individual Service interests are involved.
7. Your channel of communication will be between the Secretary, Department of Defence, and yourself. You will also communicate direct with the Defence Representative in the United Kingdom as may be necessary, but the use of this channel shall not short circuit the use of the primary channel to the Defence Department in respect of matters for which the responsibility rests with the Department, and on which it should co-ordinate action between the United States and the United Kingdom.
Where the preparation of detailed plans is involved, an exchange of information and views at planning levels may be desirable.
Where such is the case, direct consultation and communication at a planning level will be authorised by the Australian Minister for Defence in respect of specific tasks.
8. You will be guided in the exercise of the above functions by the contents of the Australian Government’s Memorandum No. 1-Co- operation in British Commonwealth Defence, a copy of which is attached hereto.
9. You will find a copy of the directive to the Defence Representative in the United Kingdom also attached hereto for your information.
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