USA AND AUSTRALIA

Bombing
Attack

of Darwin (19 February 1942).

on Pearl Harbour (7 December 1941).

The

US supported Australia in the fight in the Pacific

against the Japanese forces.

They were also the only other country fighting in both the
Pacific and European wars.

Britain's lack of support caused strain and tensions in

the Australian publics view of the mother country.

Australia had supported the UK and sent troops in both WWI

and WWII and now in Australia's time of need the UK were
unwilling to help.

WWII

WITHOUT ANY INHIBITIONS OF ANY

KIND I MAKE IT QUITE CLEAR THAT
AUSTRALIA LOOKS TO AMERICA,
FREE OF ANY PANGS AS TO OUR
TRADITIONAL LINKS OF KINSHIP WITH
THE UNITED KINGDOM.
PM John Curtin.

 General

Douglas McArthur was the commander of

American forces in the Philippines from 1941.

April

1942 appointed supreme commander of the

South-West Pacific Area with authority over all
naval, land and air forces in that area.

This meant he was in control of all US and ANZAC forces.

Established

Curtain.

a close relationship with PM John

Strategic ideas and ambitions were the same.

'we two, you and I, will see this thing through together . . .
You take care of the rear and I will handle the front.

PM JOHN CURTIN & GENERAL

DOUGLAS MCARTHUR

 Australia

and the US still had very strong ties after WWII.

US

troops had based themselves in Australia while

fighting in the Pacific War, and many stayed afterwards.

Australian women were in relationships with and marrying US

troops.

US nurses were in relationships with and marrying ANZAC men.

Americanization.

US products/ideas flooded our market (Coca-Cola, milk bars,

diners/cafes, etc.).

POST WWII RELATIONSHIP

ANZUS

treaty

Each

Party recognises that an armed

attack in the Pacific Area on any of the
Parties would be dangerous to its own
peace and safety and declares that it
would act to meet the common danger
in accordance with its constitutional
processes.

ANZUS TREATY

 Australia,

New Zealand & United States Security

Treaty (1 September 1951).

Binds

the countries to cooperate together on military

matters in the Pacific (but this soon spread to all
world conflicts).

Response

to a peace treaty with Japan that would

see Japanese re-militirisation.
Both

Australia and New Zealand were very wary of this and

only agreed to sign the peace treaty with Japan once the
ANZUS treaty was declared.

ANZUS TREATY

United States
Allies

in the Cold War.

Secure

Pacific.

interests in South

Clear

Allies in event of
threat to security.

Open

overseas markets.

Australia/NZ
Allies

in the Cold War.

Protection

against
resurgent Japan.

Protection

or China.

against USSR

Clear

defence in wake of
hostilities.

US

intelligence and
technology.

Preferential

trade?

 New

Zealand pulled out of the treaty with the US during the

height of the arms race (1985).

Anti-nuclear sentiment in NZ at the time.

French using islands in the South Pacific as testing sites for nuclear
weapons.

New labor government came into power and barred nuclear-powered

and nuclear-armed ships from docking in New Zealand ports.

Since US ships would not disclose the status of their ships, this put strain on
the relationship & treaty.

The

treaty linked Australia to the US and Australia to NZ.

So the US was still linked somewhat to NZ but only through Australia.

NO MORE NZ??