World War II: Foreign Policy

"The Sydney Morning Herald" Fri 26 April 1946

Response from a US Senator on the Pact between NZ and Australia.

Documents on Australian Foreign Policy is a project supported by successive governments since 1971 to document the evolution of Australia's external relations. The first part of the project, comprising Documents on Australian Foreign Policy 1937-1949, was completed in 2001.
The second series, which is thematic rather than chronological, began in 1997 with publication of a volume of documents entitled "The Australia-Japan Agreement on Commerce 1957" and continued with "Australia and the Indonesian Incorporation of Portuguese Timor, 1974-1976" (2000) and "The ANZUS Treaty 1951" (2001) Australia and Recognition of the People’s Republic of China, 1949-1972 and The Negotiation of the Australia New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement 1983 (2003).

"Without any inhibitions of any kind I make it quite clear that Australia looks to America, free of any pangs as to our traditional links or kinship with the United Kingdom."
(John Curtin, 1941)

John Curtin was an avid believer in the right of Australians to determine their own future. As early as the 1920s he was writing editorials about the subject. In March 1923 he wrote:

"Australia's status in international politics and diplomacy is a matter which should interest all who have the well-being of this country at heart. Like a plant, Australia is rapidly reaching maturity. Soon it will achieve the dignity of nationhood. Its foreign policy will then be decided by its own Federal Parliament and its ambassadors will be established in the world's capitals. Direct and unrestricted marketing of its goods as a matter of course will follow. National sentiment will be aroused, and pride of country generated. To be an Australian in future will be to declare one's equality in a truly national and international sense."