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.