Canberra, 1 March 1972
934. Secret
For Renouf
China Dialogue
Our AP022.1
You will have noted Prime Minister’s statement that we shall test out the Chinese on whether they are now prepared not to make Taiwan the stumbling–block in the way of normalizing relations with Australia.
2. We shall shortly be sending you detailed instructions.
[NAA: A1838, 3107/38118/2, i]
1 28 February. It communicated the text of a statement delivered on the same day by McMahon about Nixon’s visit to China. McMahon’s statement argued that US policy toward the PRC was in accord with the Australian Government’s longstanding objective of the progressive normalisation of relations with China. McMahon added: ‘Unfortunately, we have not been able to make much progress towards that objective. The prime reason has been the difficult question of the Republic of China and its Government on Taiwan’. The full text of the statement is given in Current Notes, vol. 43, 1972, pp. 53–4.