2. We have reason to believe that Mr. Menzies, the Australian Prime Minister, is raising this question with the United Kingdom Government during his current discussions in London, and it is possible that he may be raising the matter when he comes to Ottawa following his visit to London.

3. The admission of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa to NATO would make geographical nonsense of the original concept of the North Atlantic Community. On the other hand damage has been done to that concept by the admission of Turkey, which has extended the obligations of NATO to embrace the Middle East. Since Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are being called upon to help defend the Middle East, a good case can be made out for them having equal status with Turkey.

4. Australian public opinion is loathe to make commitments to the Middle East at the expense of the defence of South-East Asia. I think we can agree that strategically an Australian contribution would be more valuable in present circumstances to the defence of the Middle East than to any other theatre. I do not believe that we will obtain adequate Australian cooperation in the Middle East without full representation in NATO.

5. The United Kingdom are endeavouring to satisfy the political aspirations of the Australians by offering them membership on the Council which would advise the Commander-in-Chief in the Middle East. This would mean, however, that Australia, New Zealand and South Africa would be placed in a definite position of inferiority, both to the United Kingdom and Turkey, who are full members in NATO. It is questionable whether it is in our interest, as a member of the Commonwealth, to see other members of the Commonwealth placed in such an invidious position.

6. On account of Australian insistence on some say as to what is happening in NATO, the U.K. Government is bringing the Australians more and more into their confidence regarding developments in NATO. Sir Stephen Holmes asked Basil Robinson,⁶⁰ just before I left London, what we would think about regular meetings at the Commonwealth Relations Office with only the older members of the Commonwealth present. His argument was that the partners in NATO would not object to the United Kingdom disclosing classified information to Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, but they would have objection if this information were discussed at a meeting at which the Asian members were also present. This is in line with a tendency which I have found since the Conservative Government took office in the United Kingdom. There is a disposition to promote the concept of the old Commonwealth - a term which is now often heard in London, in contrast to the position which prevailed when the Labour Government was in office.

7. The admission of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa to NATO would have the effect of regularizing the position without doing damage to the Canadian concept of a Commonwealth. We might therefore welcome it on these grounds. We could maintain the Canadian concept by continuing to press for the execution of the Colombo Plan and in other discussions advocating close co-operation with the Asian members of the Commonwealth. At the same time the co-operation of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in defence matters would be secured through their membership in NATO.

8. You should not infer from this memorandum that I am in favour of the admission of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa to NATO. I have simply wished to set forth some of the arguments I can see from our point of view in favour of such admission and before talking to the Minister I would like to know what is the Departmental thinking on this subject.

L.D. W[ILGRESS]