27 September 1953: Regional Defence in Asia and Global Defence Problems

The Department of External Affairs reiterates disinterest in being an observer at the Five Power meeting in the previous April because Canada was not prepared to commit forces. However, there is interest in being informed of results. The question of a possible NATO-ANZUS relationship is pressing in terms of Canadians interest in regional strategy in Asia. Only the Standing Group countries are in a position to undertake the commitments involved in global planning, and all other countries should restrict their defensive planning to a regional scope. The second document from 27 September intimates that the global planning, to whatever extent it was being pursued, was independently undertaken in Washington and London. This arrangement is counter to the coordinated effort the Canadians preferred, and also means that points 8–11 about Canadian views on global strategy/planning could not be brought forward at this time.