Documents on Australian Foreign Policy :: Volume 28: Australia and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, 1945

1. CABLEGRAM FROM ADDISON TO CHIFLEY: 15 November 1945; ‘1 Cablegram from Addison1 to Chifley2 London, 15 November 1945 466. Top Secret Most Immediate Following is the text of a statement issued to the Press to-day. Begins. The President of the United States,3 the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom4 and the Prime Minister of Canada5 have issued the...’
2. CABLEGRAM FROM AUSTRALIAN DELEGATION, UNITED NATIONS, TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 28 January 1946; ‘London, 28 January 1946 14. Immediate 1. Atomic Energy We are concerned about press reports on atomic bomb experiments in the Pacific area.1 As Atomic Commission2 has now been constituted please endeavour to ascertain from the United States authorities precisely what is proposed in relation to experiments. Such experiments should...’
3. LETTER FROM DUNK TO SHEDDEN: 7 March 1946; ‘3 Letter from Dunk1 to Shedden2 Canberra, 7 March 1946 Top Secret and Personal Defence Policy and National Security I have studied carefully the enclosures to your Top Secret and Personal Letter of 26 February relating to Defence Policy and National Security.3 I agree that closer co-operation between our two...’
4. CABLEGRAM FROM AUSTRALIAN DELEGATION, UNITED NATIONS, TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 30 May 1946; ‘New York, 30 May 1946 UN 171. TOP SECRET MOST IMMEDIATE After consultation with and full agreement of Professor Oliphant and Dr Briggs,1 we propose to proceed upon the following general basis in connection with atomic energy, having regard to the unanimous decision of the United Nations Assembly in London.2...’
5. CABLEGRAM FROM EVATT TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 25 June 1946; ‘5 Cablegram from Evatt1 to Department of External Affairs Washington, 25 June 1946 848. Secret Most Immediate I propose this afternoon to make a statement to the Atomic Energy Commission outlining Australia’s views. After pointing out the urgency of the problem, the divers interests which must be taken into consideration,...’
6. CABLEGRAM FROM HODGSON TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 2 June 1947; ‘6 Cablegram from Hodgson1 to Department of External Affairs New York, 2 June 1947 UN 552. Secret Immediate The Australian position on relationship between International Atomic Control Agency and the Security Council has been clearly and vigorously maintained throughout the Debate. At the outset of the Debate on 21st May,...’
7. CABLEGRAM FROM AUSTRALIAN DELEGATION, UNITED NATIONS, TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 13 June 1947; ‘New York, 13 June 1947 UN 595. Secret We feel that in view of a number of recent developments, including the new Soviet proposals1 a general assessment of the position reached in the atomic energy commission and on our immediate course of action is urgently necessary. As we have indicated...’
8. MINUTE FROM UN DIVISION , DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, TO BURTON: 19 June 1947; ‘8 Minute from UN Division , Department of External Affairs, to Burton1 Canberra, 19 June 1947 The Delegation in UN5952 has suggested that in view of recent developments in the Atomic Energy Commission, an assessment of Australia’s position is desirable. The Committees of the Commission have been considering possible functions...’
9. REPORT BY NEW WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE: 7 May 1948; ‘9 Report by New Weapons and Equipment Development Committee1 Canberra, 7 May 1948 PresentMajor-General L.E. Beavis, C.B.E., D.S.O.| Department of Defence, Chairman. —|— E.L. White, Esq.| Department of Defence Captain H.M. Burrell, R.A.N.| Department of the Navy. Eng.-Rear-Admiral A.B. Doyle, C.B.E.| Department of the Navy. Colonel J.G. Wilton, D.S.O., O.B.E.,...’
10. MINUTE BY SHEDDEN: 14 July 1948; ‘10 Minute by Shedden1 Canberra, 14 July 1948 Top Secret Defence Committee Minute No. 83/1948 and the Appreciation enclosed therewith,2 relative to the above subject, have been submitted to the Minister […]. [matter omitted] Attachment An Appreciation by the Defence Committee of the Possible Effect of the Use of Atomic...’
11. NOTE BY AUSTRALIAN DELEGATION, UNITED NATIONS: 9 February 1951; ‘New York, 9 February 1951 [matter omitted] International Control of Atomic Energy Course of the Debate The joint resolution was introduced by Australia, which opened the debate on the item.1 The Australian representative2 paid a tribute to President Truman as having given a lead to the proposal, and recalled the...’
12. NOTE FROM TANGE TO CASEY: 9 October 1951; ‘12 Note from Tange1 to Casey2 Canberra, 9 October 1951 International Control of Atomic Energy Background The Atomic Energy Commission established in January 1946, has been deadlocked for over three years now on the question of an effective system of international control. Two sets of proposals have been examined-the Majority...’
13. NOTE FOR FILE BY DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE: 8 December 1953; ‘Canberra, [December 1953] Secret President Eisenhower’s1 Proposal for an International Atomic Energy Agency Summary of Proposal In a speech to the United Nations General Assembly on 8th December, 1953, President Eisenhower proposed that ‘to the extent permitted by elementary prudence’ the Governments principally involved in atomic development should make joint...’
14. MEMORANDUM FROM LAWREY TO TANGE: 22 September 1954; ‘14 Memorandum from Lawrey1 to Tange2 Washington, 22 September 1954 Exchange of Defence Information under United States Atomic Energy Commission Act of 19543 We have discussed with Mr. Gerard Smith, special consultant to the Secretary of State on Atomic Energy, the implementation of Section 144 b of the new Atomic...’
15. CABLEGRAM FROM MENZIES TO CASEY AND SPENDER: 15 October 1954; ‘15 Cablegram from Menzies1 to Casey and Spender2 Canberra, 15 October 1954 251. Secret Immediate Disarmament Your 585.3 McBride,4 Spicer5 and I have given some thought to the situation that seems to be shaping up in New York on this matter, and are somewhat concerned by it. Vyshinsky6 appears to...’
16. DESPATCH FROM SPENDER TO CASEY: 1 December 1954; ‘New York, 1 December 1954 1/54. Restricted Disarmament in the United Nations I have the honour to offer some brief general comment on the question of Disarmament in the United Nations. [matter omitted] As a result of Western leadership in United Nations efforts on Disarmament having passed from the United...’
17. SAVINGRAM FROM SPENDER TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 19 April 1955; ‘Washington, 19 April 1955 78. Confidential United States Defence Policy In our savingram no. 169 of 2nd December, 1954,1 we discussed the so-called massive retaliation concept,2 not that the new strategic doctrines enunciated by the Secretary of State3 seemed to be motivated largely by an understandable desire to gain a...’
18. NOTE BY GILFEDDER: 23 June 1955; ‘18 Note by Gilfedder1 Canberra, 23 June 1955 Disarmament—Soviet Proposals2 [matter omitted] Australian Viewpoint It will be recalled that because of inherent uncertainties connected with a proposal by the United Kingdom to try to establish the level of armed forces on a population criterion, the Prime Minister telegraphed London in...’
19. CABLEGRAM FROM DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS TO MCINTYRE: 26 June 1956; ‘19 Cablegram from Department of External Affairs to Mcintyre1 Canberra, 26 June 1956 1361. Secret Priority Disarmament The following supplements the Prime Minister’s Brief. On 14th June the Defence Committee2 considered the current Anglo-French, United States and Soviet proposals.3 Following paraphrases key points of the Committee’s report:4 1. principles affecting...’
20. STATEMENT BY WALKER IN THE DISARMAMENT COMMISSION: 10 July 1956; ‘20 Statement by Walker1 in the Disarmament Commission New York, 10 July 1956 Disarmament The Disarmament Commission is clearly at a crucial stage in its work. In putting forward the views of my Government I am impressed by the responsibility that rests upon each one of us. Some of the...’
21. MINUTE FROM BOOKER TO TANGE: 6 August 1956; ‘21 Minute from Booker1 to Tange Canberra, 6 August 1956 Top Secret Guard Thermo-Nuclear Isolationism The Current Argument Admiral Radford,2 the Chairman of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff,3 has been credited with the belief that the United States should rely to a greater extent on nuclear weapons and...’
22. CABLEGRAM FROM DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS TO MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK: 14 January 1957; ‘Canberra, 14 January 1957 25. Secret Guard Disarmament Main difference between United Kingdom and United States arises [from] United Kingdom desire for further opportunity to test and build up stocks of nuclear weapons before United Nations restrictions prevent it doing so. Australia has supported principles for disarmament as conceived by...’
23. CABLEGRAM FROM SPENDER TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 22 May 1957; ‘Washington, 22 May 1957 560. Secret Guard Disarmament Your telegram 411.1 When I saw Stassen2 this morning he emphasised that the United States was always viewing the latest Soviet moves on disarmament with the greatest caution. He nevertheless said that the Russian Delegation’s attitude at the London meeting3 had been...’
24. NOTE FROM BROWN TO TIMBS: 7 June 1957; ‘24 Note from Brown1 to Timbs2 Canberra, 7 June 1957 Joint Statement Mr. Tange rang this morning about Christmas Island.3 His specific question was: ‘Did we have any up-to-date information about conclusions being drawn from the present tests, or, if we did not, do we know whether there is any...’
25. CABLEGRAM FROM CASEY TO MENZIES: 25 June 1957; ‘Canberra, 25 June 1957 1612. Secret Immediate Disarmament We are not in a position to give any detailed points following up notes on disarmament in your brief because we do not have text of latest United States paper. We understand (London’s 1455)2 that it is generally similar to the working...’
26. MEMORANDUM FROM TANGE TO CHILTON: 28 June 1957; ‘26 Memorandum from Tange to Chilton1 Canberra, 28 June 1957 Top Secret [matter omitted] I should like you to consider whether the processes of consultation between this Department and your own (and related Defence machinery) could be so organized as to ensure access by this Department to scientific knowledge as...’
27. NOTE BY PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT: 21 August 1957; ‘Melbourne, 21 August 1957 Top Secret Meeting of Joint Planning Committee,1 Joint Intelligence Committee2 and Officers of Prime Minister’s Department and Department of External Affairs The purpose of this meeting was to give members of the two Committees and officers of the P.M.’s and External Affairs Departments the opportunity of...’
28. DESPATCH FROM SPENDER TO CASEY: 24 December 1957; ‘Washington, 24 December 1957 5/57. Top Secret Guard United States Defence Policy During the years I have been in Washington it has been my continuous endeavour to assess the fundamental motives and objectives of U.S. defence policies. I must confess however that even after nearly seven years of study a...’
29. DEFENCE COMMITTEE MINUTE: 6 February 1958; ‘29 Defence Committee Minute1 Canberra, 6 February 1958 Top Secret Guard Agendum No. 16/1958 & Supps. 1 & 2 No. 18/1958: Nuclear Weapons for the Australian Forces—Plutonium Production in Australia Nuclear Weapons The Defence Committee considered a memorandum of 22nd January, 1958, from the Department of External Affairs,2 in reply...’
30. SAVINGRAM FROM DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS TO POSTS: 8 April 1958; ‘30 Savingram from Department of External Affairs to Posts1 Canberra, 8 April 1958 Secret Disarmament—Position of China During the last two years the question of the inclusion of China in a general disarmament agreement has been causing us some concern. We feel that it does not always receive due attention...’
31. CABLEGRAM FROM EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 9 April 1958; ‘Washington, 9 April 1958 465. Secret Priority Disarmament: Position of China Your Savingram 69.1 In our discussions with the State Department regarding this problem over recent months we have usually been pressed to say what specific dangers we see arising from the omission of China from a first-stage disarmament agreement....’
32. CABLEGRAM FROM BEALE TO MENZIES AND CASEY: 14 April 1958; ‘32 Cablegram from Beale1 to Menzies and Casey Washington, 14 April 1958 485. Top Secret Immediate Disarmament In view of the public confusion which exists here concerning the cessation of nuclear tests2 and the political importance of the subject in Australia, I took the opportunity at my interview with Dulles...’
33. CABLEGRAM FROM EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 20 August 1958; ‘Washington, 20 August 1958 1562. Secret Communist China Following from Marshall Green (Regional Planning Adviser, Far East) on 19th August: Khrushchev-Mao Meeting1 All evidence now suggested that the Khrushchev-Mao meeting had been prepared some time in advance and that such questions as a Summit Meeting in the Security Council and...’
34. CABLEGRAM FROM EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 20 August 1958; ‘Washington, 20 August 1958 1574. Confidential Communist China-Nuclear The following from Lutkins1 (Acting Director Chinese Affairs) on 20th August: [matter omitted] 4. Lutkins commented in same terms as Marshall Green regarding the State Department view that the Russians would be reluctant to make available nuclear weapons to the Communist Chinese...’
35. EXTRACT FROM CABLEGRAM FROM DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS TO CASEY: 30 September 1958; ‘Canberra, 30 September 1958 1500. Top Secret Priority Brief for ANZUS Council Meeting1 (i) The Chinese Communist threat. We would like an American assessment of the likelihood and implications of China obtaining a nuclear capacity, either under her own control or provided by the Russians. Recent Moscow statements appear greatly...’
36. REPORT ON JOINT PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING: 22 October 1958; ‘Canberra, 22 October 1958 Top Secret Present Captain J.M. Ramsay D.S.C. Director of Plans. Brigadier C.E. Long Brigadier of General Staff (A). Air Commodore F. Headlam C.B.E. Director General Plans and Policy. G.E. Blakers Esq. Assistant Secretary (Defence Planning). Without Agendum Report No. 59/1958: United Nations Discussions on Suspension...’
37. CABLEGRAM FROM MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 23 October 1958; ‘New York, 23 October 1958 1152. Priority Disarmament Following is full summary of Australian statement to First Committee today.1 Present debate on Disarmament so far has not been very encouraging although many approached present assembly with rather stronger hopes that the United Nations might at last be on doorstep of...’
38. SUBMISSION FROM TOWNLEY TO CABINET: 1 February 1959; ‘38 Submission from Townley1 to Cabinet Canberra, February 1959 Top Secret Submission No. 59: Strategic Basis of Australian Defence Policy I submit for consideration by Cabinet the attached report of the Defence Committee on the strategic basis of Australian defence policy. The report re-affirms some of the main principles of...’
39. BACKGROUND NOTE BY PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT TO CABINET DECISION NO. 113: 23 March 1959; ‘39 Background Note by Prime Minister’s Department to Cabinet Decision No. 1131 Canberra, 23 March 1959 Top Secret Strategic Basis of Australian Defence Policy (Submission No. 59)2 The discussion of the strategic basis paper centred chiefly around what Cabinet regarded as a new approach to the problem of defence-i.e. the...’
40. SAVINGRAM FROM DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS TO HIGH COMMISSION IN LONDON: 23 March 1959; ‘Canberra, 23 March 1959 SECRET Geneva Conference on the Discontinuance of Nuclear Weapons1 Your telegram 750.2 Our position on membership of a preparatory commission as given in our savingram 26 of 11th December was ‘If a preparatory commission (as envisaged by the United Kingdom) is set up and there is...’
41. BRIEF FOR CASEY BY DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 23 March 1959; ‘Canberra, [23] March 1959 Australian Attitude on the Disposition of Nuclear Weapons In accordance with Australia’s policy of support for moves towards an agreement on the discontinuance of nuclear weapons tests under an adequate system of control, the Australian delegation at the recent session of the UN General Assembly co-sponsored...’
42. CABLEGRAM FROM EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 23 April 1959; ‘Canberra, 23 April 1959 871. Secret Safeguards of Nuclear Exports Your telegram 455.1 Schaetzel2 (Office of Special Assistant for Atomic Energy) told us on 23rd April that United States had agreed that COCOM3 should permit export of nuclear materials to Communist countries under I.A.E.A.4 safeguards. Reasons for this decision were:...’
43. NOTES BY PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT ON CABINET SUBMISSION NO. 157: 13 May 1959; ‘43 Notes by Prime Minister’s Department on Cabinet Submission No. 1571 Canberra, 13 May 1959 Confidential Safeguards on Nuclear Exports The Submission recommends that Australia support an interim system of safeguards on nuclear exports along lines proposed by the U.S. and U.K.-‘interim’ because it would eventually be absorbed or replaced...’
44. SAVINGRAM FROM EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 20 May 1959; ‘Washington, 20 May 1959 294. Confidential United States Arrangements with N.A.T.O. Countries for Training in Nuclear Weapons and Installation of I.R.B.M.1 Bases Following from Fessenden2 (Deputy Director, European Regional Affairs) on 19 May. (Although you will have most of the information, round-up may be useful). A wide variety of Nuclear...’
45. CABLEGRAM FROM DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS TO EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON: 28 July 1959; ‘Canberra, 28 July 1959 906. Top Secret Guard Deterrents Your telegram 1473.1 [matter omitted] For the longer term we have to ask ourselves whether it would be realistic to expect the United Kingdom and United States ever to let a situation over New Guinea develop to a point where hostilities,...’
46. SUBMISSION FROM HICKS TO TOWNLEY: 1 October 1959; ‘Canberra, 1 October 1959 Top Secret Draft Brief for Discussions 1. I attach for your consideration a draft brief for the discussions with the U.S. Secretary of Defence1 during his visit to Australia from 8th to 13th October. [matter omitted] Question of a Nuclear Capability for the Australian Forces The...’
47. MINUTE OF DEFENCE COMMITTEE MEETING: 29 April 1960; ‘Canberra, 29 April 1960 Secret Present| —|— Vice Admiral Sir Roy Dowling, K.B.E., C.B., D.S.O., Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (Acting Chairman)| Air Marshal Sir Frederick Scherger, K.B.E., C.B., D.S.O., A.F.C., Chief of the Air Staff| S. Landau, Esq., O.B.E., Acting Secretary, Department of Defence Lieutenant-General Sir Ragnar Garrett, K.B.E.,...’
48. REPORT OF THE JOINT INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE: 1 June 1960; ‘Canberra, June 1960 Secret JIC (AUST) (60) 28: Nuclear Weapons and Guided Missiles in Communist China up to the End of 1965 [matter omitted] Conclusions The Chinese Requirement [matter omitted] We believe that China intends to acquire a full range of nuclear weapons and guided missiles as soon as practicable....’
49. CABLEGRAM FROM EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 4 June 1960; ‘Canberra, 4 June 1960 1463. Secret Priority Nuclear Test Talks—Problem of Communist China We discussed with Baker1 (Disarmament Affairs) on 3rd June the problem of Communist China and a nuclear test agreement. We asked whether it was realistic to contemplate the early conclusion of a Nuclear Test Treaty (assuming the...’
50. BRIEFING PAPER BY HARRY FOR MENZIES: 12 November 1960; ‘Canberra, 12 November 1960 Secret Irish Draft Resolution on Transfer of Nuclear Weapons The Irish have tabled a draft resolution in the United Nations General Assembly— calling on powers producing nuclear weapons to refrain from relinquishing control to any nation not possessing them.1 calling on powers not possessing such weapons...’
51. SUBMISSION FROM MENZIES TO CABINET: 7 June 1961; ‘51 Submission from Menzies1 to Cabinet Canberra, 7 June 1961 Secret Submission No. 1156—Nuclear Tests Conference: Control Posts in Australia Summary: Since the Nuclear Tests Conference was resumed at Geneva on 21 March,2 the Soviet Delegate3 has repeated his request that all the seven control posts scheduled for Australia be...’
52. REPORT BY THE JOINT PLANNING COMMITTEE: 28 September 1961; ‘52 Report by the Joint Planning Committee1 Canberra, 28 September 1961 Top Secret—Guard Agendum No. 58/61. Report No. 64/61. The Strategic Basis of Australian Defence Policy Matter referred As a prior step to consideration of the New Three Years’ Defence Programme commencing 1st July, 1962, the Joint Planning Committee has...’
53. LETTER FROM BARWICK TO U THANT: 15 March 1962; ‘53 Letter from Barwick1 to U Thant2 Canberra, 15 March 1962 Joint Statement I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 2 January, 1962,3 concerning Resolution 1664 (XVI) adopted by the General Assembly at its 1070th meeting on 4 December, 1961.4 In this letter, you seek the...’
54. CABLEGRAM FROM DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS TO EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON: 28 April 1962; ‘Canberra, 28 April 1962 744. Top Secret Immediate S.E.A.T.O. and the Use of Nuclear Weapons Please arrange to have the following message delivered to the Secretary of State1 from the Minister2 before the Secretary’s3 departure from Washington.4 Begins: Dear Mr Secretary, At the heart of the free world’s deterrent in...’
55. MINUTE FROM ROWLAND TO BARWICK: 12 February 1963; ‘55 Minute from Rowland1 to Barwick Canberra, 12 February 1963 Confidential Nassau, President de Gaulle2 and Nuclear Deterrents The United States Attitude [matter omitted] Although the pros and cons of a European nuclear force have been discussed for years, the ultimate power of a decision on using nuclear weapons has...’
56. SAVINGRAM FROM EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 18 October 1963; ‘Washington, 18 October 1963 1337. Confidential [matter omitted] (a) Non-Dissemination of Nuclear Weapons Rusk informed Couve1 that the Russians were definitely interested in an agreement on nuclear weapons but the U.S. had made it clear that it would not sign such an agreement unless Communist China were one of the...’
57. MEMORANDUM FROM BLAKENEY TO ROWLAND: 30 December 1963; ‘57 Memorandum from Blakeney1 to Rowland Bonn, 30 December 1963 Secret Nuclear Weapons: Switzerland and Sweden I understand that, in signing the Test Ban Treaty,2 Switzerland and Sweden refused to bind themselves not to produce nuclear weapons. The Canadian Ambassador has recently given me further information on the position of...’
58. NOTE FROM SARGEANT TO RAGGATT: 8 July 1964; ‘58 Note from Sargeant1 to Raggatt2 Canberra, 8 July 1964 Nuclear Power and Pumped Storage I attended, on your behalf, the meeting outlined at folio 13 on Thursday, 2nd July, 1964. Present were: The meeting outlined at folio 13 on Thursday, 2nd July, 1964. Present Were:A.A.E.C. Professor Baxter (Chairman)3 ...’
59. SAVINGRAM FROM PLIMSOLL TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 2 November 1964; ‘59 Savingram from Plimsoll1 to Department of External Affairs New Delhi, 2 November 1964 79. Confidential Consequences of Chinese Nuclear Explosion Explosion of a Chinese nuclear bomb2 has stimulated discussion inside India on whether India should also manufacture a nuclear bomb. Some of the discussion is like discussion in Australia...’
60. SAVINGRAM FROM PLIMSOLL TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 13 November 1964; ‘New Delhi, 13 November 1964 82. Secret Nuclear Bomb Vice Admiral Chatterji1 (Commandant of National Defence College) has told me that on the day after the Chinese nuclear test the students and staff at the College had devoted half a day to discussing the implications. 25% had favoured India making...’
61. CABLEGRAM FROM EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 15 January 1965; ‘Washington, 15 January 1965 136. Secret Prime Minister Sato’s1 visit to Washington Marshall Green2 gave Renouf3 today the following briefing upon the Sato visit. The most significant points about the visit were fourfold and as follows— 1. Sato had made a very good impression as a man of strength, capacity...’
62. MINUTE FROM GRIFFITH TO BUNTING: 2 June 1965; ‘62 Minute from Griffith1 to Bunting2 Canberra, 2 June 1965 Further to my note that Defence Department should turn their minds to considering the implications of these proposals,3 I have this to add: The Outward Telegram from the Department of External Affairs of the 28th May raised some questions which...’
63. CABLEGRAM FROM MCCARTHY TO BUNTING: 4 June 1965; ‘63 Cablegram from McCarthy1 to Bunting2 New York, 4 June 1965 UN 792. Confidential Priority Disarmament Commission Reference Canberra’s telegram 15363 to you. Following is account of the present state of developments and our assessment of the current situation in the Disarmament Commission. After seven weeks of meetings, the session...’
64. PAPER BY DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 11 June 1965; ‘Canberra, 11 June 1965 Secret History of Australia’s Attitudes to and Obligations under Safeguards Arrangements ‘Safeguards’ are controls which are applied to the transfer of nuclear materials, equipment or facilities supplied for peaceful purposes. Their limited objective is to inhibit, by publicity or objective inspection, the diversion of nuclear materials...’
65. CABLEGRAM FROM PLIMSOLL TO HIGH COMMISSION IN LONDON: 16 June 1965; ‘Canberra, 16 June 1965 2980. Confidential Disarmament Telegram 2901 to you from Washington states that Rusk will provide the Prime Minister with a list of countries which, while pressing strongly for disarmament, were continually seeking themselves to purchase arms abroad.2 The following comment is offered without knowing the background of...’
66. NOTE BY DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS ON INTERDEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE MEETING ON IAEA SAFEGUARDS: 22 June 1965; ‘Canberra, 22 June 1965 Secret Present: Mr. E.L.D. White,1 Chairman (Defence) Mr. W.F. Caplehorn2 (Defence) Mr. A.D. Thomas3 (AAEC) Mr. A.R. Wilson4 (AAEC) Mr. L.D. Thomson5 (External Affairs) Mr. D.W. Evans6 (External Affairs) Mr. J.A. Piper7 (External Affairs) Mr. C.G. Woodard8 (External Affairs) Mr. A.T. Griffith (Prime Minister’s) Mr....’
67. CABLEGRAM FROM DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS TO HIGH COMMISSION IN NEW DELHI: 26 June 1965; ‘Canberra, 26 June 1965 460. Following are extracts from communiqué issued at conclusion Prime Ministers’ Conference on 25th June, 1965.1 Disarmament The Prime Ministers reaffirmed the aim which they had expressed in their statement on Disarmament on 17th March, 1961, namely to achieve total and worldwide disarmament, subject to effective...’
68. NOTE BY EVANS: 30 June 1965; ‘Canberra, 30 June 1965 Top Secret History of Australian Policy towards the Acquisition of a Nuclear Weapons Capability Summary The Australian Government has consistently given support to all genuine efforts to both general and complete disarmament and to the banning of nuclear tests. In doing so, it has, however, been...’
69. RECORD BY EVANS OF INTERDEPARTMENTAL MEETING: 1 July 1965; ‘69 Record by Evans of Interdepartmental Meeting1 Canberra, 1 July 1965 Secret Introduction of Nuclear Power to Australia The meeting was chaired by Mr Boswell,2 Secretary of the Department of National Development. AttendanceAttendance A.A.E.C. Professor Sir Philip Baxter National Development Mr Boswell Mr McCay3 Mr Sargeant Trade...’
70. BRIEF FOR UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY TWENTIETH SESSION SECRET SUPPLEMENT (SUPPLEMENT NO. 1): August 1965; ‘Canberra, August 1965 Secret Item 28-Question of General and Complete Disarmament (Section on Non-Dissemination of Nuclear Weapons) Documents UNGA Resolution 1664 (XVI)1 UNGA Resolution 1665 (XVI)2 A/5758 Indian Explanatory Memorandum A/5731 Report of the Conference of the Eighteen Nation Committee on Disarmament to the 19th Session (Report to 20th Session...’
71. RECORD BY STAREY OF CONVERSATION WITH SEKI: 2 August 1965; ‘71 Record by Starey1 of Conversation with Seki2 Jakarta, 2 August 1965 Secret Indonesia’s Atomic Plans Mr. Seki called on me at the office. His one purpose was to discuss Indonesia’s announced intention to explode an atomic weapon.3 Mr. Seki asked how we assessed Indonesia’s chances of exploding a bomb....’
72. CABLEGRAM FROM HIGH COMMISSION IN LONDON TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 3 August 1965; ‘London, 3 August 1965 6659. Secret Indonesia and Atomic Bomb Foreign Office have report from Gilchrist,1 Djakarta, that Japanese Embassy has heard from source found reliable for two years that Chinese atomic bomb is to be exploded on an Indonesian island about 5 October. Report mentions island in Indian Ocean...’
73. MINUTE FROM MOODIE TO DAVIS: 27 August 1965; ‘73 Minute from Moodie1 to Davis2 Canberra, 27 August 1965 Confidential Atomic Intelligence Timbs telephoned me from AAEC in Sydney, referring to our discussions several weeks ago. I gathered from our necessarily guarded conversation that Timbs had had a discussion with a French engineer whom he described as competent and...’
74. RECORD OF MEETING HELD AT DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 10 September 1965; ‘Canberra, 10 September 1965 Confidential Record of meeting held in Department of External Affairs Conference Room on the 10th September, 1965, addressed by Mr Palfrey1 and Mr Hall2 from the United States Atomic Energy Commission. Main subjects discussed: Plowshare Experiments.3 Proliferation of nuclear weapons. I.A.E.A. Safeguards. U.S. Bilateral Safeguards Agreements....’
75. NOTE BY DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 12 September 1965; ‘Canberra, [12 September]1 1965 Confidential Documents UNGA Resolution 1910 (XVIII), 1963.2 A/5731: Report of the Conference of the Eighteen Nation Committee on Disarmament (1964). Australian Delegate’s Statement, U.N. Disarmament Commission, 20th May, 1965.3 Urgent Need for Suspension of Nuclear and Thermonuclear Tests: Report of the Conference on the Eighteen Nation...’
76. BRIEFING NOTE FROM MORRIS TO MCINTYRE: 20 October 1965; ‘76 Briefing Note from Morris1 to McIntyre2 Canberra, 20 October 1965 Top Secret Defence Committee Meeting—Agendum 59/1965 The paper circulated as Agendum 59/653 touches on the range of problems affecting the possible acquisition by Australia of nuclear weapons, in particular in relation to the imposition of ‘safeguards on any nuclear...’
77. RECORD OF CONVERSATION BY DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 17 November 1965; ‘Canberra, 17 November 1965 Secret Officers present:Officers present: Mr. A.M. Morris Mr. G.N. Upton1 Mr. J. Piper Mr. D.W. Evans Subjects discussed: Proposals for an Australian atomic reactor; transfer of safeguards Messrs. Timbs and Thomas came to the Department to outline the A.A.E.C.’s views on the current...’
78. LETTER FROM TIMBS TO PLIMSOLL: 31 December 1965; ‘78 Letter from Timbs to Plimsoll1 Sydney, 31 December 1965 Confidential Please refer to your memo. of the 30th November, 1965, your reference 720/6/7,2 relating to the report by Professor Baxter on his visit to India for the inauguration of the plutonium separation plant.3 I note that the Canadian authorities...’
79. MINUTE FROM PLIMSOLL TO HASLUCK: 18 February 1966; ‘Canberra, 18 February 1966 Secret United States Proposal for the Transfer to the International Atomic Energy Agency of Safeguards Arrangements on Nuclear Materials, Equipment and Facilities Obtained by Australia from the United States under the United States/Australia Agreement for Co-operation in the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy Attached for your...’
80. LETTER FROM TIMBS TO BUNTING: 21 March 1966; ‘Sydney, 21 March 1966 Personal I received a telephone message last Friday about the two submissions which are now filed with the Cabinet Secretariat, one dealing with the Transfer of the Safeguards Provisions of our Bilateral to the I.A.E.A.1 and the other dealing with the S.G.H.W. Project.2 The message indicated...’
81. NOTE BY DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE FOR CABINET: 24 March 1966; ‘81 Note by Department of Defence for Cabinet1 Canberra, May 1966 Secret Safeguards Provisions for the Australia-U.S. Agreement for Co-operation in Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy In Decision Number 1122 dated 24th March, 1966, Cabinet asked for ‘an expression of the views of the Defence Department on the issue whether...’
82. NOTES BY BAILEY ON CABINET SUBMISSION 200: 27 May 1966; ‘82 Notes by Bailey1 on Cabinet Submission 2002 Canberra, 27 May 1966 Secret Safeguard Provisions for Lucas Heights When Cabinet considered the American proposal that the reactors at Lucas Heights should be subject to inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency (I.A.E.A) rather than by United States inspectors, it stopped...’
83. BRIEF FOR AUSTRALIAN DELEGATION TO UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY: September 1966; ‘Canberra, [September 1966]1 Confidential Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons: Report of the Eighteen Nation Committee on Disarmament [matter omitted] Note Throughout the items of the brief on disarmament, measures to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons will, in general, be referred to as ‘non-proliferation’ in accordance with the title of this...’
84. RECORD BY BOOKER OF CONVERSATION WITH GERMAN AMBASSADOR: 2 February 1967; ‘84 Record by Booker of Conversation with German Ambassador1 Canberra, 2 February 1967 Confidential Non-Proliferation Treaty The German Ambassador called at his own request to explain his Government’s attitude to the current discussions in regard to a Treaty for the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and to ask for an indication...’
85. LETTER FROM TANGE TO HASLUCK: 17 February 1967; ‘85 Letter from Tange1 to Hasluck New Delhi, 17 February 1967 Indian Nuclear Armament I invite to your attention the existence of pressures on the government in India eventually to manufacture nuclear weapons and, in the meantime, to preserve her right to do so when it is timely and practicable....’
86. RECORD OF DISCUSSION BETWEEN JAPANESE AND AUSTRALIAN OFFICIALS: 31 March 1967; ‘Tokyo, 31 March 1967 Confidential Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Present: Mr H. Kitahara, Director, European & Oceanic Affairs Bureau Mr G. Hattori, Director, United Nations Bureau Mr H. Kira, Deputy Director, Asian Affairs Bureau Mr H. Kaya, Chief, British Commonwealth Section Mr M. Takahashi, British Commonwealth Section (Rapporteur) Mr M.R. Booker,...’
87. CABLEGRAM FROM EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 14 April 1967; ‘Washington, 14 April 1967 1489. Secret Non-Proliferation In a very useful discussion today, Kranich1 (ACDA) told Booker that the U.S. was still having consultations and had ‘gone a long way’ in its discussions with its European allies, but that there were still basic concerns (on the part of the FRG2...’
88. RECORD BY EVANS OF INTER-DEPARTMENTAL MEETING: 19 April 1967; ‘Canberra, 19 April 1967 Top Secret Guard Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Present: External Affairs Sir Lawrence McIntyre1-Chairman Mr. K.C.O. Shann2 Mr. O.L. Davis Mr. C.R. Ashwin3 Mr. W.K. Flanagan4 Mr. D.W. Evans Defence Mr G.E. Blakers5 Sir Leslie Martin Mr E.L.D. White AAEC Sir Philip Baxter Mr A.D. Thomas PM’s...’
89. NOTE BY DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS ON THE DRAFT TREATY ON THE NON-PROLIFERATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS: 1 May 1967; ‘Canberra, 1 May 1967 Secret Introduction The purpose of this note is limited to commenting upon the draft Treaty on Nonproliferation1 and on some of the possible courses of action in regard to that Treaty. Some background matters are touched upon, but it is emphasised that this note does not...’
90. CABLEGRAM FROM MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 10 May 1967; ‘New York, 10 May 1967 UN 444. Confidential Guard Non-Proliferation Washington’s telegram 1803.1 You may be interested to have some comment, as seen from this post, on the revised United States draft text on non-proliferation: The object of the new preambular language expressing support for the principle of ‘safeguarding effectively...’
91. MINUTE FROM BOOKER TO PLIMSOLL: 18 May 1967; ‘Canberra, [18 May 1967]1 Secret Indian Attitude to a Non-Proliferation Treaty You asked me for a note on the Indian attitude toward adherence to a treaty aimed at preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Recent Indian statements on various articles of a draft non-proliferation treaty cast considerable doubt on whether...’
92. CABLEGRAM FROM EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 15 June 1967; ‘Washington, 15 June 1967 2534. Secret Non-Proliferation We asked Kranich (ACDA) whether he thought that the Middle East crisis had affected the attitude of the Soviet negotiators on the non-proliferation treaty.1 Kranich thought that this could have been the case. He felt that the Russians realised that in a sense...’
93. NOTE BY DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 30 June 1967; ‘London, 30 June 1967 Western Strategy The following are some notes of a discussion session at the Imperial Defence College on 30th June, 1967, which was led by Herman Kahn (Director of the Hudson Institute). He is the author of several books, including ‘On Thermonuclear War’ (1960), ‘Thinking About the...’
94. MINUTE FROM BOOKER TO ANDERSON: 16 August 1967; ‘94 Minute from Booker to Anderson1 Canberra, 16 August 1967 Secret Nuclear Weapons Policy and Non-Proliferation Treaty You will know that it now seems probable that a joint United States - Russian draft nonproliferation treaty2 will be submitted to the 18 nation Disarmament Committee within the next week. Although a...’
95. SAVINGRAM FROM TANGE TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 18 August 1967; ‘New Delhi, 18 August 1967 66. Confidential Nuclear Weapons and a Nuclear Guarantee During a call on the Minister for External Affairs (Mr. Chagla) about which I reported in my Savingram 65,1 the discussion on China led on to the question of protection against nuclear threats from China. Chagla said...’
96. MEMORANDUM FROM MCKEOWN TO PLIMSOLL: 2 October 1967; ‘96 Memorandum from McKeown1 to Plimsoll New York, 2 October 1967 1188. Confidential Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons: An Indian View The following exchange of views with Mr K.P. Jain, First Secretary in the Indian Disarmament delegation, gives some insights into current Indian thinking on the proposed agreement on non-proliferation of...’
97. MEMORANDUM FROM DOUGLAS-SCOTT TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 17 November 1967; ‘97 Memorandum from Douglas-Scott1 to Department of External Affairs Brussels, 17 November 1967 585. Confidential Non-Proliferation The following is the text (to our knowledge still classified) of the five principles acceptable to the Euratom Five2 which the United States has been discussing with the Russians in Geneva: Safeguards under the...’
98. MINUTE FROM BOOKER TO PRITCHETT: 23 November 1967; ‘98 Minute from Booker to Pritchett1 Canberra, 23 November 1967 Top Secret Austeo Australian Nuclear Capability [matter omitted] 3. If we are to look ten years ahead we should perhaps examine possible sources of danger other than Communist expansion. Within ten years Japan will have the nuclear and missile technology...’
99. CABLEGRAM FROM DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS TO MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK: 28 November 1967; ‘Canberra, 28 November 1967 1223/4126. Top Secret Immediate Reference to our telegram 1222/4125.1 Nuclear Weapon It appears that the implication of Fisher’s2 statement at the United States Mission on 24th November is that the United States Government is now prepared to accept the proposition that nuclear weapons should not be...’
100. CABLEGRAM FROM WALLER TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 29 November 1967; ‘100 Cablegram from Waller1 to Department of External Affairs Washington, 29 November 1967 4895. Top Secret Non-Proliferation-Security Assurances Your cable 4126.2 I had a general discussion today with Farley3 (Deputy Assistant Secretary, Politico-Military Affairs, State Department) about the proposed Security Council resolution etc. on security assurances in the event of...’
101. ASSESSMENT BY DEFENCE COMMITTEE: 7 December 1967; ‘Canberra, 7 December 1967 Top Secret Austeo An Australian Nuclear Capability Strategic Considerations Matter Referred In Minute No 73/1965 the Defence Committee recommended that: In the light of the overseas developments and particularly the possibility of the emergence of additional nuclear powers it would be appropriate to make a new...’
102. MINUTE FROM MOTT TO PRITCHETT AND THOMSON: 6 February 1968; ‘102 Minute from Mott1 to Pritchett and Thomson Canberra, 6 February 1968 Top Secret Draft Treaty on Nuclear Non-Proliferation Attached for your information is a copy of a draft Cabinet submission, prepared in this Department, regarding Australia’s attitude to the draft treaty on nuclear non-proliferation, which the U.S.A. and the...’
103. LETTER FROM BAXTER TO MCINTYRE: 6 February 1968; ‘Sydney, 6 February 1968 Top Secret Thank you for your letter of 5th January, 19681 in which you referred to the agreement2 reached by the Americans and the Russians on the text of a draft treaty relating to non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. You mentioned that a meeting will be convened...’
104. CABLEGRAM FROM EMBASSY IN MOSCOW TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 9 February 1968; ‘Moscow, 9 February 1968 77. Confidential Non-Proliferation Treaty Your 39.1 As to particular aspects of treaty and its wording, Soviet attitude is a matter of record in Geneva and New York. Presumably what you require from us is a more general comment. Our impression is that although it wishes to...’
105. RECORD OF INTER-DEPARTMENTAL MEETING: 9 February 1968; ‘Canberra, 9 February 1968 Top Secret Draft Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Present: External Affairs ir Laurence McIntyre Mr M.R. Booker Mr W.T. Doig1 Mr W.B. Pritchett Mr J.L. Allen2 Mr H.C. Mott Prime Minister’s Mr G.J. Yeend3 Mr A.T. Griffith Defence Mr E.L.D. White Mr C.W. Clugston4 National...’
106. LETTER FROM FAIRBAIRN TO GORTON: 16 February 1968; ‘Canberra, 16 February 1968 Top Secret I would like to invite your attention to the draft1 of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (N.P.T.) which has been under discussion at the Eighteen Nation Disarmament Committee in Geneva. Australia is not a Member of this Committee, but we have been kept informed of...’
107. PAPER BY AAEC: 1 March 1968; ‘Sydney, March 1968 Top Secret Austeo Australian Atomic Energy Commission Nuclear Weapons Policy This paper presents an A.A.E.C. - Department of Supply assessment of Australia’s capability to produce and manufacture nuclear weapons within the existing framework of Safeguards requirements attaching to any nuclear equipment, materials or information received from overseas....’
108. SUMBMISSION FROM BOOKER TO HASLUCK: 6 March 1968; ‘Canberra, 6 March 1968 Secret Draft Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons The Eighteen Nations Disarmament Committee is expected to complete its consideration of the draft treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons by March 15th.1 The draft will then be transmitted to the United Nations for consideration by...’
109. PAPER BY DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE: 6 March 1968; ‘Canberra, 6 March 1968 6/1968. Supplement 3. Top Secret Austeo Defence Committee Non-Proliferation Treaty Attached is a paper prepared by the Department of Defence for consideration by Defence Committee in conjunction with Agendum No. 6/1968.1 Non-Proliferation Treaty-Considerations Relating to Australian Attitude The Australian Government must shortly determine its attitude to...’
110. NOTE BY PLIMSOLL ON DEFENCE COMMITTEE MEETING: 7 March 1968; ‘Canberra, 7 March 19681 Top Secret Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons The Defence Committee considered this question on the morning of 7th March. The Chairman2 began by inviting those present to express any queries they had about the papers circulated by the various Departments, without having any discussion or...’
111. CABLEGRAM FROM DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS TO POSTS: 15 March 1968; ‘Canberra, 15 March 1968 803. Confidential Non-Proliferation Treaty Our 627 to Washington and Washington’s 9641 The text of the draft treaty2 has been under consideration by interested departments in the AAEC. Clearly it leaves open the interpretation of a number of important matters and the full and precise effect of...’
112. CABLEGRAM FROM EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 15 March 1968; ‘Canberra, 15 March 1968 1117. Secret Non-Proliferation Treaty Our telegram 11151. Following is the text of the US ‘interpretations’ of the non-proliferation treaty. Begins The treaty deals only with what is prohibited, not with what is permitted. It prohibits transfer to any recipient whatsoever of ‘nuclear weapons’ or control over...’
113. MINUTE FROM PRITCHETT TO PLIMSOLL: 20 March 1968; ‘Canberra, 20 March 1968 Top Secret Non-Proliferation Treaty I passed to you yesterday a copy of the paper on the Non-Proliferation Treaty produced by the working group set up by the Defence Committee.1 The AAEC representative stated that his acceptance of the paper could not be regarded as committing the...’
114. MINUTE FROM BOOKER TO PLIMSOLL: 21 March 1968; ‘Canberra, 21 March 1968 Top Secret Non-Proliferation Treaty American ‘Interpretations’1 The American ‘interpretations’ of the treaty which they submitted to the Russians in April last year have important bearing on any arguments to the effect that the treaty will have worse consequences for Australia than are apparent from the text....’
115. NOTE BY PLIMSOLL: 21 March 1968; ‘Canberra, 21 March 1968 The Defence Committee this morning discussed the paper prepared by the working group (Agendum No. 9/1968)1 set up by the Defence Committee on the Non-Proliferation Treaty. At the opening of the meeting the chairman (Sir Henry Bland) asked for general comments on the paper, without going...’
116. CABLEGRAM FROM EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 22 March 1968; ‘Washington, 22 March 1968 1238. Secret Guard Non-Proliferation Treaty Your 803.1 Of the queries raised in your telegram, (e), the second part of (f) and (g) have been specifically covered in our earlier telegrams. The remaining queries raise two broad issues, namely the possible effect of the treaty on research...’
117. NOTE BY DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE: 22 March 1968; ‘Canberra, 22 March 1968 Top Secret Non-Proliferation Treaty [matter omitted] Australian Military Requirements in the Shorter Term A successful NPT would confine nuclear risk in Asia to China. (Should India produce nuclear weapons, this would be in the context of its conflict with China, and would not pose a threat...’
118. CABLEGRAM FROM HIGH COMMISSION IN LONDON TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 17 April 1968; ‘London, 17 April 1968 6145. Confidential Priority Non-Proliferation Treaty Your 3729.1 Below is text of Foreign Office answers to queries in paragraph 3 of your 2602.2 Article II will commit the non-nuclear-weapon parties not to manufacture or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices. It will not forbid...’
119. RECORD OF MEETING OF OFFICIALS OF THE UNITED STATES AND AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENTS: 19 April 1968; ‘Canberra, 19 April 1968 Secret Draft Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons - Summary Record Representatives United States of America Mr Herbert Scoville, Assistant Director, Bureau of Science and Technology, Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (Leader). Mr George Bunn, General Counsel, ACDA Mr Howard C. Brown, Senior Assistant General...’
120. CABLEGRAM FROM MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 19 April 1968; ‘New York, 19 April 1968 UN 641. Confidential Priority Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons The past week has seen considerable activity in New York by both the major nuclear powers in support of their efforts to secure endorsement of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. The United States have been conducting far-ranging consultation with...’
121. CABLEGRAM FROM BAILEY TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 19 April 1968; ‘121 Cablegram from Bailey1 to Department of External Affairs Ottawa, 19 April 1968 246. Confidential Non-Proliferation Treaty Your telegram 142,2 my 239 and earlier messages.3 After substantial inter-divisional consultations Legal Division, External Affairs, gave me this morning, 19th, a written answer to the seven questions which we put to them...’
122. MINUTE FROM PRITCHETT TO PLIMSOLL: 22 April 1968; ‘Canberra, 22 April 1968 Top Secret Non-Proliferation Treaty Herewith a copy of the paper1 agreed over the weekend between Cawsey2 of Supply, Thomas of the AAEC and me. I had opportunity before discussion yesterday with these two to go through the draft with Mr Booker. 2. This morning we shall...’
123. REPORT OF DEFENCE COMMITTEE SUBMITTED TO CABINET BY HASLUCK AND FAIRHALL: 26 April 1968; ‘123 Report of Defence Committee Submitted to Cabinet by Hasluck and FairHall1 Canberra, 26 April 1968 Top Secret Non-Proliferation Treaty Introduction In its previous considerations of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, Cabinet decided (Decision No. 95)2 that ‘the principle of the Non-Proliferation Treaty should be supported and that Australia should make genuine...’
124. CABLEGRAM FROM DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS TO SHAW: 1 May 1968; ‘124 Cablegram from Department of External Affairs to Shaw1 Canberra, 1 [May]2 1968 373. Top Secret Immediate Non-Proliferation Treaty Cabinet has considered the report of the Defence Committee of 26 April3 a copy of which you will have received. The Australian delegation’s course in the General Assembly should be governed...’
125. COMMENTARY BY MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS: 1 May 1968; ‘New York, 1 May 1968 Top Secret Delegation’s Instructions-Commentary The following notes seek to set out the position of the delegation in relation to the instructions communicated in Canberra’s telegram No. 373 of 1 May1 together with the Defence Committee’s report of 26 April.2 So far the delegation has observed...’
126. AIDE-MEMOIRE FROM UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT: 1 May 1968; ‘126 Aide-Memoire from United States Government1 to Australian Government New York, 1 May 1968 Top Secret Delegation’s Instructions—Commentary The Embassy on April 24 observed numerous press reports of the Australian Government’s decision to support a nuclear non-proliferation treaty in principle. The Age reported: ‘Federal Cabinet is understood to have instructed...’
127. CABLEGRAM FROM SHAW TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 2 May 1968; ‘New York, 2 May 1968 UN 714. Secret Immediate Non-Proliferation Treaty Our telegram 708.1 2. I thanked Ambassador Fisher for agreeing to see us at short notice. I said that while the Australian Government supported in principle the need for an effective non-proliferation treaty there were a number of implications...’
128. CABLEGRAM FROM SHAW TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 2 May 1968; ‘New York, 2 May 1968 UN 719. Secret Immediate Non-Proliferation Treaty: Consultations with British Following is record of conversation at Australian Mission with Porter1 (Ambassador, British Disarmament Delegation, Geneva) and Hillier-Fry2 and Cromartie3 (British Disarmament Delegation) on 2 May. Officers present with me were Pritchett, Wilson, Cawsey, McKeown and Evans....’
129. CABLEGRAM FROM SHAW TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 4 May 1968; ‘New York, 4 May 1968 UN 736. Secret Priority Non-Proliferation Treaty In pursuance of the suggestion in paragraph 4 of your telegram 373 of 1st May 1968,1 that the delegation might seek the opportunity to raise certain implications of the draft nonproliferation treaty which were of concern to Australia in...’
130. CABLEGRAM FROM DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS TO SHAW: 6 May 1968; ‘Canberra, 6 May 1968 385. Secret Priority Non-Proliferation Treaty Our following telegram1 contains text of aide-memoire left with Department today by United States Embassy concerning discussion in New York between yourself and Mr Fisher. In response we have said that we would give careful consideration to American point that discussion...’
131. CABLEGRAM FROM SHAW TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 6 May 1968; ‘New York, 6 May 1968 UN 738. Confidential Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Japanese Ambassador Tsuruoka1 asked to see me today. His concern was over the Japanese draft resolution (telegram No. 6942 of 29 April) affirming responsibility of states to act in accordance with charter principles. contains text of aide-memoire left with...’
132. CABLEGRAM FROM SHAW TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 7 May 1968; ‘New York, 7 May 1968 UN 744. Secret Immediate Non-Proliferation Treaty Your telegram 3851 and 386.2 Following is a record of discussions held today, 6th May, in the Australian Mission with representative of the United States. 2. The Australian delegation was the same as that reported in my telegram 7143...’
133. CABLEGRAM FROM MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 9 May 1968; ‘New York, 9 May 1968 UN 763. Secret Immediate Non-Proliferation Treaty Following emerged from discussions today between Pritchett, Wilson and Cawsey, Ambassador Schippenkoetter [sic]1 and Ramisch2 of German delegation and von Herschenberg3 of South Africa. Ramisch made following points to Wilson. Manufacture 1. Germany is particularly concerned about the interpretation...’
134. CABLEGRAM FROM SHAW TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 9 May 1968; ‘New York, 9 May 1968 UN 764. Secret Priority Non-Proliferation Treaty I took Pritchett and Cawsey to visit the Belgian mission, represented by Ambassador Schuurmans,1 Mademoiselle Dever,2 M. Denorme3 and M. Willot.4 2. I said that the Australian delegation was undertaking bilateral discussions on the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, about which...’
135. CABLEGRAM FROM MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 10 May 1968; ‘New York, 10 May 1968 UN 782. Priority Non-Proliferation Treaty Following are excerpts from the statement made in the First Committee today 10th May by Japanese Ambassador, Tsuruoka. [matter omitted] The Japanese Government subscribes to the spirit of a treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. It also notes that...’
136. CABLEGRAM FROM SHAW TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 13 May 1968; ‘New York, 13 May 1968 UN 791. Confidential Immediate Non-Proliferation Treaty Following is text of aide memoire handed to me this morning, 13th May, by Ambassador Fisher. Begins: Under Article II of the proposed non-proliferation treaty each non-nuclear-weapon state party to the treaty undertakes ‘… not to manufacture or otherwise...’
137. MINUTE FROM GILCHRIST TO HASLUCK AND PLIMSOLL: 14 May 1968; ‘137 Minute from Gilchrist1 to Hasluck and Plimsoll Canberra, 14 May 1968 Confidential Record of Meeting of Foreign Affairs Committee Senator Cormack2 in the Chair. Eighteen members present. Address by Professor Burns on Nuclear Proliferation 2. The Chairman, acknowledging an initiative by the Deputy-Chairman (Mr Beazley),3 said that he had...’
138. CABLEGRAM FROM SHAW TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 17 May 1968; ‘New York, 17 May 1968 UN 833. Confidential Immediate Non-Proliferation Treaty Reference our telegrams 8091 of 14th May and 8172 of 15th May. De Palma of U.S. delegation spoke to me today, 17th May, about implications of the leak of information concerning the United States aide memoire to ourselves. He...’
139. PRESS RELEASE BY DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 18 May 1968; ‘New York, 18 May 1968 Draft Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Australian Statement at the United Nations Following is the text of the statement made in the First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly by the Australian Ambassador to the United Nations, Mr. Patrick Shaw, C.B.E., on...’
140. CABLEGRAM FROM SHAW TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 28 May 1968; ‘New York, 28 May 1968 UN 906. Confidential Immediate Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty There have been moves to resolve the deadlock which was developing in the debate in the First Committee as a result of the number of queries and proposals made by members critical of the draft treaty and the...’
141. CABLEGRAM FROM MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS TO DEPARTMENT EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 5 June 1968; ‘New York, 5 June 1968 UN 967. Confidential Immediate Non-Proliferation Treaty We called today (5 June) on Mrs Myrdal,1 leader of the Swedish delegation, to discuss Sweden’s position on Article V (explosions for peaceful purposes). Following were the main points of the discussion. 2. Swedish dissatisfaction regarding Article V derived...’
142. SUMMARY RECORD OF INTER-DEPARTMENTAL WORKING GROUP MEETING: 13 June 1968; ‘Canberra, 13 June 1968 Secret Draft Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons The Chairman, Mr Blakers, Acting Secretary of the Department of Defence, said that the main reason for calling the meeting was to hear the comments of members of the Australian delegation to the resumed session of the...’
143. CABLEGRAM FROM SHAW TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 18 June 1968; ‘New York, 18 June 1968 UN 1042. Confidential Immediate Conference of Non-Nuclear Weapon States [matter omitted] The next important stage would be the meeting of the 18-Nation Disarmament Committee, scheduled to commence in Geneva about 15th July. This meeting may be important in revealing whether a further major step in...’
144. CABLEGRAM FROM SHAW TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 19 June 1968; ‘New York, 19 June 1968 UN 1057. Confidential Non-Nuclear Weapons States Conference With further reference to your telegram no. 5451 and as foreshadowed in my telegram no. 1042 of 18 June,2 I had separate discussions today 19th June with United Kingdom and United States representatives concerning the non-proliferation treaty, the...’
145. RECORD BY BOOKER OF MEETING WITH MAJOLI: 11 July 1968; ‘145 Record by Booker of Meeting with Majoli1 Canberra, 11 July 1968 Confidential Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty The Italian Ambassador called under instructions to ask that we should support an approach which the Italians proposed to make in Washington requesting the State Department not to place before Congress certain of the...’
146. SUMMARY RECORD OF INTER-DEPARTMENTAL WORKING GROUP MEETING: 23 July 1968; ‘Canberra, 23 July 1968 Secret [matter omitted] Mr Booker said that he had been informed that the Prime Minister and Mr Hasluck had decided to seek Cabinet’s agreement to a proposition that Australia should sign the nonproliferation treaty now, and at the same time should state its requirements for ratification....’
147. REPORT BY NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY WORKING GROUP FOR DEFENCE COMMITTEE: 12 August 1968; ‘Canberra, 12 August 1968 Secret [matter omitted] Points of Concern to Australia in the Treaty 7. Cabinet Decision No. 1651 of 29th April, 1968, set out Australia’s main concerns with the treaty. It directed the delegation to the resumed session of the General Assembly (from 24 April to 12 June)...’
148. SUBMISSION FROM HASLUCK TO CABINET: 13 August 1968; ‘Canberra, 13 August 1968 Confidential Conference of Non-Nuclear States The purpose of this submission is to seek the approval of Cabinet for the attendance of an Australian delegation at the conference of non-nuclear weapon states in Geneva from 29th August to 28th September. Background 2. On 17th November, 1966, the...’
149. REPORT OF THE AUSTRALIAN DELEGATION TO THE RESUMED MEETING OF THE TWENTY-SECOND SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY 24 APRIL - 12 JUNE 1968: 14 August 1968; ‘[Canberra, 14 August 1968] Secret Item: ‘Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons: Report of the Conference by the Eighteen-Nation Committee on Disarmament.’ [matter omitted] 34. [matter omitted] Commenting on these views,1 the Australian Delegation, in its statement on 17 May,2 urged the Committee to ‘face the fact that a non-proliferation treaty is...’
150. RECORD BY MCINTYRE OF CONVERSATION WITH SOVIET CHARGE D'AFFAIRES: 22 August 1968; ‘150 Record by McIntyre of Conversation with Soviet Charge D’Affaires1 Canberra, 22 August 1968 Confidential Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty The Soviet Charge d’Affaires called on me by appointment at midday today. He had asked yesterday morning to call on the Secretary, who had asked me to accept the call. I had...’
151. CABLEGRAM FROM EMBASSY IN BONN TO DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 29 August 1968; ‘Canberra, 29 August 1968 416. Confidential Non-Proliferation Treaty - German Attitude The Czech crisis has focused German attention on their security and has raised the level of anxiety with which it is discussed. Fears of a heightened vulnerability to attack and the need for strengthening of, and rethinking in NATO...’
152. DRAFT AAEC PAPER: 29 August 1968; ‘152 Draft AAEC Paper1 Sydney, 29 August 1968 Confidential Non-Proliferation Treaty - Regional Arrangements Introduction One of the points in Submission No. 47,2 on which Cabinet sought further study, was the suggestion that Australia should actively explore with friendly non-nuclear weapons countries in the Pacific Area, the possibility of forming...’
153. RECORD OF DISCUSSION AT THE ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY BETWEEN HASLUCK AND MEDICI: 25 September 1968; ‘153 Record of Discussion at the Italian Foreign Ministry between Hasluck and Medici1 Rome, 25 September 1968 Secret The following officials were present during the discussions: Australia H.E. Mr W.R. Crocker, Australian Ambassador to Italy Mr J.R. Holdich, First Secretary, Australian Embassy, Rome Mr D.W. Argall, Second Secretary, Australian Embassy,...’
154. REPORT ON CONFERENCE OF NON-NUCLEAR-WEAPON STATES: 28 September 1968; ‘Canberra, 28 September 1968 Secret The Conference of Non-Nuclear Weapon States was held in Geneva from 29th August to 28th September 1968. Background 2. On 17th November 1966, the United Nations General Assembly decided to convene a conference of non-nuclear weapon states to consider the questions of the security of...’
155. SUBMISSION FROM BOOKER TO HASLUCK: 6 February 1969; ‘Canberra, [6] February 1969 1 Confidential Cape Keraudren: Partial Test Ban Treaty and Non-Proliferation Treaty This submission considers the applicability of international treaties to the project to develop a harbour at Cape Keraudren,2 near Port Hedland, with the use of nuclear explosives, and makes recommendations as to the handling of...’
156. PAPER BY DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: 26 February 1969; ‘156 Paper by Department of External Affairs1 Canberra, 26 February 1969 Secret Non-Proliferation Treaty and Disarmament Two main considerations will determine whether the treaty for the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons will be effective: Nations with a significant nuclear capability or potential and other politically important nations should adhere to the...’
157. BRIEF FOR GORTON BY PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT: 18 April 1969; ‘Canberra, 18 April 1969 Secret Non-Proliferation Treaty The treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons (copy attached as annex I)1 opened for signature on 1st July, 1968. At the time of writing (18th April 1969), 88 governments had signed it and 10 had deposited their instruments of ratification (lists of...’
158. COMMENTS BY MOTT ON PAPER BY JOINT INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE: 27 May 1969; ‘Canberra, 27 May 1969 Secret JIC (AUST) (69) 51: Comments on Nuclear Aspects [matter omitted] It is difficult, if not impossible, to conceive of a conflict between new nuclear powers that would not involve the super-powers. One of the concepts underlying the NPT is that any nuclear outbreak, anywhere would...’
159. CABLEGRAM FROM DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS TO EMBASSY IN MOSCOW: 8 July 1969; ‘Canberra, 8 July 1969 257. For your information. The following are extracts from notes of an address by the Minister for Defence1 to a conference of Liberal Party candidates in Sydney on 7th July 1969. Full text with some background follow by bag. Begins: ‘Our military thinking at this time...’
160. NOTE FROM SHANN TO BOOKER: 10 February 1970; ‘Canberra, 10 February 1970 Non-Proliferation Treaty Mr Thomas of the Atomic Energy Commission telephoned me this afternoon. The Commission, as you know, has always had difficulty in sorting out who is responsible for what in the atomic energy field in this Department. 2. He informed me as follows: (1) The...’
161. SUBMISSION FROM CORKERY TO MCMAHON: 29 April 1970; ‘161 Submission from Corkery1 to McMahon2 Canberra, 29 April 1970 Confidential NPT Safeguards This submission seeks your approval for the transmission to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of the attached working paper3 giving Australian views as to the implications of the treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons for...’
162. NOTE BY EKLUND: 15 May 1970; ‘162 Note by Eklund1 Geneva, 15 May 1970 Restricted The Views of Member States2 [matter omitted] 1. Australia 30 April 1970 [matter omitted] ‘3. The following considerations are most pressing for the Agency in formulating safeguards under Article III of the Treaty. (a) Under the Treaty the task of safeguards...’
163. BRIEF FOR AUSTRALIAN DELEGATION TO IAEA SAFEGUARDS COMMITTEE: 11 June 1970; ‘163 Brief for Australian Delegation to IAEA Safeguards Committee1 Canberra, 11 June 1970 Confidential Summary of Principles The brief for the delegation to the Safeguards Committee meeting on 12th June, 1970, is the approved Working Paper submitted by the Australian Government to the Director-General on 1st May.2 However, the following...’
164. STATEMENT BY BAXTER TO IAEA SAFEGUARDS COMMITTEE: 12 June 1970; ‘Vienna, 12 June 1970 Summary of Principles May I associate the Australian Delegation with the expressions of good will made by earlier speakers. Australia has made it quite clear, from its intervention in the General Assembly on the Nuclear Treaty, and on other occasions, through the document it provided for...’
165. BRIEFING BACKGROUND PAPER FOR AUSTRALIAN DELEGATIOIN TO IAEA SAFEGUARDS COMMITTEE: 17 June 1970; ‘165 Briefing Background Paper for Australian Delegatioin to IAEA Safeguards Committee1 Canberra, 17 June 1970 Confidential [matter omitted] The task of administering safeguards under the NPT is quite different from the original concept under the Statute, though it is to be recognised that some of the countries do not take...’
166. NOTE BY DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS: January 1971; ‘Canberra, [January] 1971 Signatories to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Up to 5th March, 1970, the day the treaty came into force, the following 97 governments had signed it in one or more capitals on the date indicated. The list is complete since, with entry into force...’
167. RECORD OF CONVERSATION BETWEEN DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND AAEC OFFICIALS: 9 March 1971; ‘Canberra, 9 March 1971 Secret Record of Conversation with Sir Philip Baxter, K.B.E., C.M.G., Chairman, and Mr. T.F.B. Macadie of the Atomic Energy Commission Officers Present: Sir Keith Waller,1 Mr. K.C.O. Shann, Dr. J.W.C. Cumes,2 Mr. P.J. Flood3 Atomic Energy Matters Safeguards and N.P.T. After mentioning that the Commission would...’
168. MINUTE FROM DAN TO CUMES, EASTMAN, PETHERBRIDGE, COOK AND FLOOD: 26 March 1971; ‘168 Minute from Dan1 to Cumes, Eastman,2 Petherbridge,3 Cook4 and Flood Canberra, 26 March 1971 Secret NPT: Developments since the Treaty’s Entry into Force Background The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons entered into force on 5th March, 1970. Australia signed the Treaty on 27th February, 1970 (and was...’
169. REPORT BY INTER-DEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE: 1 April 1971; ‘Canberra, 1 April 1971 Confidential IAEA/NPT Safeguards Safeguards and the Treaty in the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons This report examines the extent to which the recommendations of the IAEA Safeguards Committee relevant to the content of agreements between States and the Agency, required in connection with the Treaty on the...’
170. RECORD BY IRVINE OF AAEA GROUP VISIT TO ITALY: 18 June 1971; ‘170 Record by Irvine1 of AAEA Group Visit to Italy Rome, 18 June 1971 Restricted On Tuesday, 15th June, I accompanied Mr. M. Timbs and Mr. T. Alder2 on a visit to C.N.E.N.3 for discussions with Ing. Pantenetti4 and members of his staff. The discussions were mainly on technical matters...’
171. CABLEGRAM FROM EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON TO DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS: 18 June 1971; ‘Washington, 18 June 1971 3237. Secret Eclipse Priority Uranium Enrichment Sharing Zook1 (Director, Atomic Energy Affairs, State Department) stressed to us on 17 June that it was up to Australia, Canada, and Japan to register their interest with the United States authorities if early progress is to be made towards...’
172. MEMORANDUM FROM KENTWELL TO WALLER: 28 June 1971; ‘172 Memorandum from Kentwell1 to Waller Tokyo, 28 June 1971 Confidential Visit of Mr. K.F. Alder and Dr. G.L. Miles The visit began with a call on the Ambassador on the morning of 7th June which was followed by a luncheon given by the Minister, Mr. D.J. Horne. A list...’
173. MEMORANDUM FROM SADLEIR TO ACTING SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS: 6 July 1971; ‘173 Memorandum from Sadleir1 to Acting Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs Washington, 6 July 1971 Secret Visit of Mr Swartz: Uranium Enrichment Enclosed, for your information, are copies of records of discussions between the Minister for National Development, Mr Swartz, and- members of the Joint Congressional Committee on Atomic Energy;...’
174. CABLEGRAM FROM EMBASSY IN TOKYO TO DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS: 6 July 1971; ‘Tokyo, 6 July 1971 1243. For J. Colgan—Department of National Development, Canberra. From Nash. Following press statement for release through Gallery and Toowoomba. Press Statement-Tokyo July 6 1971 By Mr Reginald Swartz-Australian Minister for National Development. Australia viewed as important a Pacific Basin–wide examination of reserves, production and future requirements...’
175. RECORD BY CUMES OF CONVERSATION WITH TIMBS: 15 July 1971; ‘Canberra, 15 July 1971 Secret Jervis Bay Power Plant; Future Chairman of AAEC; and Enrichment Plant Mr. Maurice Timbs asked to come to Canberra to talk to me and the following conversation was mainly over lunch. Jervis Bay Power Plant Timbs went over, in a mass of detail, what he...’
176. MEMORANDUM FROM CUMES TO WALLER: 19 July 1971; ‘Canberra, 19 July 1971 Secret Ratification of the N.P.T. In recent conversations with me, the Executive Commissioner of the A.A.E.C., Mr. Maurice Timbs, has shown a disposition to support Australian ratification of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, largely because he believes that our failure to ratify might adversely affect the United States’...’
177. CABLEGRAM FROM EMBASSY IN TOKYO TO DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS: 4 August 1971; ‘Tokyo, 4 August 1971 1490. Confidential Priority Uranium Enrichment Tamiya,1 Deputy Director of Atomic Energy Bureau, asked Maxwell2 to see him 4 August regarding United States offer of Uranium Enrichment. Tamiya advised that following receipt of U.S. aide memoire Japan proposed to U.S. that informal talks be held between U.S....’
178. CABLEGRAM FROM DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON: 13 October 1971; ‘Canberra, 13 October 1971 5107. Confidential Priority Washington Uranium Enrichment Talks This message sets out in paragraph four Australia’s views which we would like you to convey to American authorities. Recent cables make it appear that the Americans are taking a firm attitude towards telling countries affected that the talks...’
179. CABLEGRAM FROM EMBASSY IN THE HAGUE TO DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS: 15 October 1971; ‘The Hague, 15 October 1971 963. Confidential Washington Uranium Enrichment Talks Your 1058.1 We spoke to Kruyt,2 head of Scientific Operation Division in the Foreign Ministry, on 15 October. He said Netherlands was opposed to separate group meetings but feared they would proceed on this basis. Dutch saw move as...’
180. CABLEGRAM FROM HIGH COMMISSION IN LONDON TO DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS: 25 October 1971; ‘London, 25 October 1971 19582. Confidential Priority Uranium Enrichment Your 52921 to Washington. The FCO says that Britain will strongly support the participation of Australia in the European Group, and will urge other Europeans to agree to this. One or two Europeans (Italy and Belgium) have expressed some doubts about...’
181. RECORD BY EMBASSY IN TOKYO OF CONVERSATION WITH FRENCH OFFICIAL: 25 October 1971; ‘Tokyo, 25 October 1971 Confidential Record of Conversation with Mr R. Mas, French Attaché (Nuclear Affairs) Officers Present: Dr W.B. Rotsey, Counsellor (Atomic Energy), Mr A.J. Kentwell, First Secretary Uranium Enrichment Multinational Talks Australia: What is the French position with respect to the forthcoming multinational talks on enrichment? Mas: The...’
182. CABLEGRAM FROM EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON TO DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS: 16 November 1971; ‘Washington, 16 November 1971 6300. Restricted Uranium Enrichment Talks Your 5757.1 Meeting convened by European Commission was held in Washington on 15 November. Apart from Commission and delegations from its member countries, those present included Australia, Brazil, Britain, Canada, Japan and New Zealand. All these countries will be represented at...’
183. RECORD OF CONVERSATION BETWEEN ROTSEY AND HELFRICH: 27 September 1971; ‘Tokyo, 27 September 1971 Confidential Record of Conversation with Mr and Mrs G. Helfrich (USAEC representative, Tokyo) Officers Present: Dr W.B. Rotsey (Counsellor, Atomic Energy), Mrs W.B. Rotsey Uranium Enrichment Mr Helfrich said that the U.S. was not eager to sell its technology and was by no means pressing it...’
184. SUBMISSION FROM BLAKENEY TO BOWEN: 19 April 1972; ‘184 Submission from Blakeney1 to Bowen2 Canberra, 19 April 1972 Confidential Inquiry from Japanese Embassy about Nuclear Weapons in Australia The First Secretary of the Japanese Embassy, Mr Tada,3 telephoned the Department on the morning of 18 April saying that he was conveying a request from Tokyo concerning the stationing...’
185. SUBMISSION FROM CUMES TO BOWEN: 20 April 1972; ‘Canberra, 20 April 1972 Confidential Australian Membership of the Zangger Committee The purpose of this submission is to seek your approval for Australia to accept an invitation to join the Zangger Committee. 2. The Zangger Committee comprises an informal group of Western ‘supplier’ countries which has been considering the interpretation...’
186. SUBMISSION FROM BLAKENEY TO BOWEN: 1 July 1972; ‘Canberra, July 1972 Top Secret Austeo Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons [matter omitted] Australian Nuclear Weapons Capability Reservations expressed concerning safeguards and inspections are directly related to our aim of developing unhindered, nuclear power for peaceful purposes. On the question of signature and ratification, however, Australia’s position has...’
187. CABLEGRAM FROM PLIMSOLL TO DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS: 21 July 1972; ‘Washington, 21 July 1972 3749. Top Secret Austeo Underground Nuclear Testing Since my return from the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment I have tried to probe further into the real reasons for the United States opposition to a comprehensive test ban treaty. The United States official position has been...’
188. MINUTE PAPER BY WHITLAM FOR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL: 11 January 1973; ‘188 Minute Paper by Whitlam1 for Executive Council Canberra, 11 January 1973 Ratification of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Recommended for the approval of His Excellency the Governor-General in Council that: Australia ratify the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which was opened for signature at London, Moscow and Washington on...’
189. NEWS RELEASE FROM DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS: 23 January 1973; ‘Canberra, 23 January 1973 Australian Ratification of Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Seabed Arms Control Treaties The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr E.G. Whitlam, announced today that arrangements had been made for Australia to ratify two Treaties relating to the control of nuclear weapons—the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Seabed Arms Control...’
190. CABLEGRAM FROM DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON: 30 March 1973; ‘Canberra, 30 March 1973 1524. Confidential NPT Safeguards Agreement This message outlines some queries relevant to our NPT safeguards agreement which we wish to raise with American authorities. Australia’s ratification of the NPT requires us inter alia to negotiate an agreement with the IAEA whereby the agency will apply treaty...’
191. CABLEGRAM FROM EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON TO DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS: 3 April 1973; ‘Washington, 3 April 1973 1777. Confidential Priority NPT Safeguards Agreements Our 1714. On 2 April, we had a further meeting with Webber1 (Director, Atomic Energy Affairs, State Department) and Brewster2 (Deputy Director) who had with them Yeomans3 and Spingarn4 (USAEC) and Maurer5 (Legal Adviser’s Officer, State Department). We spelt out...’
192. REPORT OF MEETING OF ASIA-PACIFIC COUNTRIES: 21 September 1973; ‘Vienna, 21 September 1973 Restricted IAEA: Regional Co-operation Agreement As advised in Vienna memorandum 7811 of 3 September 1973, a meeting of countries from the Asian and Pacific regions was held during the recent IAEA General Conference to discuss the Regional Co-operation Agreement for Research, Development and Training related to...’
193. NOTE ON AUSTRALIA'S DISARMAMENT ACTIVITY AT UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY: 11 January 1974; ‘Canberra, 11 January 1974 This article summarises the main features of Australia’s voting and statements at the 28th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on disarmament matters (except on nuclear testing and the Indian Ocean Zone of Peace, which have been reported separately). There were 16 disarmament resolutions at the UNGA...’
194. CABLEGRAM FROM DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO HIGH COMMISSION IN KUALA LUMPUR: 28 January 1974; ‘Canberra, 28 January 1974 445. Confidential Immediate NPT Safeguards Agreement The question has been raised as to whether it is desirable for Australia to seek the inclusion of a clause in the NPT safeguards agreement which would provide for a review of the operation of the agreement, on request or,...’
195. NOTE FROM BUTLER TO CURTIS: 20 May 1974; ‘195 Note from Butler1 to Curtis2 Canberra, 20 May 1974 Confidential Nuclear India This paper discusses some implications of India’s announcement yesterday, 19 May 1974, that it had detonated a nuclear device.3 [matter omitted] Conclusions 23. Our relationship with India and our understanding of its foreign policies must now be...’
196. CABLEGRAM FROM EMBASSY IN VIENNA TO DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS: 6 June 1974; ‘Canberra, 6 June 1974 1025. Confidential Indian Nuclear Explosion: Zangger Committee and IAEA Board Long lunchtime discussion produced many themes but no very clear pattern. Main points follow. (a) Zangger Committee 2. Except for South Africa there seemed general agreement that Committee should agree on action on existing trigger lists...’
197. MEMORANDUM FROM EMBASSY IN TOKYO TO RENOUF: 28 June 1974; ‘197 Memorandum from Embassy in Tokyo to Renouf1 Tokyo, 28 June 1974 Restricted Japan: Ratification of the NPT Please refer to our cables O.TO18242 of 25 June and O.TO18523 of 27 June on the above subject. 2. Press reports on 25 June quoted a ‘high official’ of the Foreign Ministry...’
198. LETTER FROM WILSON TO WILSON: 2 July 1974; ‘198 Letter from Wilson1 to Wilson2 Sydney, 2 July 1974 Confidential In my letter3 of 26 June 1974, I set down my thinking on what Australia might do to help make non-proliferation a reality. I made the point that if we believe that the containment of proliferation is fundamental to...’
199. LETTER FROM MCKEOW TO RENOUF: 26 July 1974; ‘Washington, 26 July 1974 Confidential Non Proliferation Treaty On 24 July we discussed with Bengelsdorf1 (Bureau of International Scientific and Technological Affairs, State Department, and formerly the USAEC) some aspects of Australian concern about challenges to the Non Proliferation regime and your interest in stimulating action in support of the...’
200. DESPATCH FROM GRANT TO WILLESEE: 29 July 1974; ‘200 Despatch from Grant1 to Willesee New Delhi, 29 July 1974 4/74. Secret Austeo Indian Nuclear Test It is now possible to offer some further observations on India’s nuclear test, which took place on 18 May. [matter omitted] Conclusion Australia is a prosperous developed/developing country, with abundant energy resources for...’
201. RECORD OF CONVERSATION BETWEEN WOOLCOTT AND CH'IAO KUAN-HUA: 16 August 1974; ‘201 Record of Conversation between Woolcott1 and Ch’iao Kuan-Hua2 Peking, 16 August 1974 Confidential Conversation with: Mr R.A. Woolcott, Deputy Secretary and Ch’iao Kuan-hua, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Aust. Officers Present: Dr S.A. FitzGerald, Ambassador, Mr M. Williams,3 Mr A.M McLean4 Chou En-lai,5 Disarmament, Relations with United States, Sino-Soviet...’
202. EXTRACT FROM WHITLAM'S ADDRESS AT UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY: 30 September 1974; ‘New York, 30 September 1974 [matter omitted] Our first aim must be to strengthen the Non-Proliferation Treaty and work for its acceptance everywhere. Real and rapid progress can best be made through this treaty. We should build on what we have. We have not time to start all over again....’
203. RECORD BY ROTSEY OF CONVERSATION WITH IMAI: 8 October 1974; ‘203 Record by Rotsey1 of Conversation with Imai2 Tokyo, 8 October 1974 Confidential Japan/Enrichment Feasibility Study/Prime Minister Tanaka’s Visit Mr Imai said he had been asked to provide advice to those who would brief Prime Minister Tanaka3 for his visit to Australia, consequently had asked to see me so that...’
204. CABLEGRAM FROM DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO EMBASSY IN TOKYO: 9 October 1974; ‘Canberra, 9 October 1974 3265. Confidential Non-Proliferation We too have had difficulty in discovering what practical measures the United States has in mind to contain nuclear proliferation. It appears to us that there is an active debate going on between the various US agencies concerned and many fundamental questions remain...’
205. MINUTE FROM PRITCHETT TO BARNARD: 9 October 1974; ‘205 Minute from Pritchett1 to Barnard2 Canberra, 9 October 1974 Confidential Nuclear Non-Proliferation Attached is a paper3 which takes a preliminary look at the issues confronting non-proliferation generally, and recommends courses of action for Australia to follow to help strengthen the non-proliferation regime. The paper is the product of a...’
206. CABLEGRAM FROM EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON TO DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS: 19 October 1974; ‘Washington, 19 October 1974 6429. Confidential Non-Proliferation and P.N.E. On 18th October we discussed with Shea1 (Nuclear Weapons, and Advanced Technology Bureau) and with Givan,2 Black3 and Einhorn4 (International Relations Bureau), the present state of A.C.D.A.’s thinking on measures to contain nuclear proliferation. We had earlier talked to Bloom5 (Bureau...’
207. LETTER FROM MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS TO RENOUF: 21 October 1974; ‘New York, 21 October 1974 UNGA 29: United States Statement of Non-Proliferation and Related Nuclear Issues in Disarmament Debate Senator Stuart Symington, United States Representative in the First Committee on disarmament questions, made an important statement at the opening session of the disarmament debate on 21 October. The text is...’

Documents on Australian Foreign Policy

Volume 28: Australia and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, 1945–1974

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