A REGIONAL ARRANGEMENT FOR SOUTH-EAST ASIA

It seems clear from a telegram [1] I saw yesterday that we will
have to define our position. It seems equally clear that we will
have to try to cut in half the area represented at the Asian
Conference.

Although we have not received the relevant documentation regarding
the Prime Ministers' Conference in London, it does appear from
cable E.792 to the High Commissioner's Office in London, dated
13th October, that the United Kingdom prepared a paper PMM.(48)1
[3] on defence policy. In this paper it was stated that:-

' ... it has not been possible to achieve collective security
under the United Nations, and that the Western Powers feel that it
is of paramount importance that all like-minded Governments should
co-operate in building up collective security from the angle of
regional security as provided for by the Charter.'

The cable continued:-

'The United Kingdom statement with regard to the need and urgency
for a regional plan for Western Europe, the foundation of which
was laid by the Brussels Treaty and in which the Western European
countries, United States of America and the United Kingdom should
closely co-operate, is in principle in accordance with the
Australian Government's views with regard to the Pacific region'.

This would seem to be ample justification for our tackling a
regional organisation under Article 52 of the Charter.

Arrangements for co-operation in Empire defence, since they do not
relate to a particular region, have been justified under Article
51. The present position with regard to the Commonwealth countries
in South East Asia is that both India and Pakistan have been
invited to join in the Australian defence machinery and have been
informed that we would be happy to take part in theirs. Neither
Government has so far committed itself.

We should at some stage take the whole matter up with the Defence
Department and they would have some difficulty, in view of the
foregoing, in justifying a straight out refusal to participate in
a regional arrangement for South East Asia. [4]