Canberra Pact
Encyclopedia
The Canberra Pact was a treaty of mutual defense between the governments of Australia
and New Zealand
, signed on 21 January 1944. This Pact was not a military alliance; its focus was on working together on issues of mutual interest. New Zealand and Australia signed the pact so they could have a voice in the postwar negotiations. They wanted a vital stake in the disposition of the islands south of the equator and knew that they needed to do this to have their voice heard by the other allies.
In the wake of Japan
's expansion into the Pacific region during the Second World War, New Zealand and Australia looked at working more closely together. The Canberra Pact represented an undertaking by both countries to co-operate on international matters, especially in the Pacific. In particular they agreed to:
The Canberra Pact was the first treaty signed independently by New Zealand.
The United States
was extremely annoyed with the Canberra Pact as the pact was made without their consultation, and the pact clearly outlined strategic boundaries in the Pacific, which the United States regarded as imposing on their sphere of interest. The prime minister
s of New Zealand and Australia were subjected to a very demeaning dressing-down by Secretary of State
Hull
as a sign of American displeasure. In addition, New Zealand's armed forces in the Pacific theatre of operations
were effectively sidelined as a result.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, signed on 21 January 1944. This Pact was not a military alliance; its focus was on working together on issues of mutual interest. New Zealand and Australia signed the pact so they could have a voice in the postwar negotiations. They wanted a vital stake in the disposition of the islands south of the equator and knew that they needed to do this to have their voice heard by the other allies.
In the wake of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
's expansion into the Pacific region during the Second World War, New Zealand and Australia looked at working more closely together. The Canberra Pact represented an undertaking by both countries to co-operate on international matters, especially in the Pacific. In particular they agreed to:
- consult on matters of common interest
- oppose the placement of military installations in the region
- support the principle of trusteeshipLeague of Nations mandateA League of Nations mandate was a legal status for certain territories transferred from the control of one country to another following World War I, or the legal instruments that contained the internationally agreed-upon terms for administering the territory on behalf of the League...
for the remaining Pacific island colonies, and - set up a Regional Commission with the purpose of advancing the economic, political and social development of the region.
The Canberra Pact was the first treaty signed independently by New Zealand.
The United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
was extremely annoyed with the Canberra Pact as the pact was made without their consultation, and the pact clearly outlined strategic boundaries in the Pacific, which the United States regarded as imposing on their sphere of interest. The prime minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
s of New Zealand and Australia were subjected to a very demeaning dressing-down by Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
Hull
Cordell Hull
Cordell Hull was an American politician from the U.S. state of Tennessee. He is best known as the longest-serving Secretary of State, holding the position for 11 years in the administration of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt during much of World War II...
as a sign of American displeasure. In addition, New Zealand's armed forces in the Pacific theatre of operations
Pacific Theater of Operations
The Pacific Theater of Operations was the World War II area of military activity in the Pacific Ocean and the countries bordering it, a geographic scope that reflected the operational and administrative command structures of the American forces during that period...
were effectively sidelined as a result.