Rethinking the Australian Dilemma: Economics and Foreign Policy, 1942-1957
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RETHINKING THE AUSTRALIAN DILEMMA: ECONOMICS AND FOREIGN POLICY, 1942-1957 BILL APTER A thesis in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy School of Social Sciences Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences FEBRUARY 2019 1 PRELIMINARY PAPERS a. Thesis/Dissertation Sheet Surname/Family Name : Apter Given Name/s : John William Badgery (Bill) Abbreviation for degree as give in the University calendar : PhD Faculty : FASS School : Social Sciences Rethinking the Australian Dilemma: Economics and Foreign Policy, Thesis Title : 1942-1957 Abstract 350 words maximum: (PLEASE TYPE) This thesis explains how and why, between 1942 and 1957, Australian governments shifted from their historical relationship with Britain to the beginning of a primary reliance on the United States. It shows that, while the Curtin and Chifley ALP governments sought to maintain and strengthen Australia’s links with Britain, the Menzies administration took the decisive steps towards this realignment. The dominant feature of the Australian governments’ foreign policy was a search for security. First Japan and then the Cold War in Asia had made the region more dangerous, at the same time as Australia’s traditional protector, Britain, proved less willing and able to meet these threats. However, while military strengths and cultural links were significant, domestic economic reconstruction was at the core of Australia’s search for security. The Menzies government saw development as not just as an economic goal but critical for Australia’s long-term security. This policy served to push Australia towards the dominant United States and its ally, Japan, and away from the weaker Britain. There is broad acceptance that the end of British Australia only occurred in the 1960s and that the initiative for change came from Britain rather than Australia. This thesis rejects this consensus, which fundamentally rests on the idea of Australia remaining part of a British World until the UK attempts to join the European Community in the 1960s. Instead, it demonstrates that critical steps ending British Australia occurred in the 1950s and were initiated by Australia. These Australian actions were especially pronounced in the economic sphere, which has been largely overlooked in the current consensus. Australia’s understanding of its national self-interest outweighed its sense of Britishness. Declaration relating to disposition of project thesis/dissertation I hereby grant to the UNSW or its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation in whole or in part in the University libraries in all forms of media, now or here after known, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. I retain all property rights, such as patent rights. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis or dissertation. I also authorise University Microfilms to use the 350-word abstract of my thesis in Dissertation Abstracts International (this is applicable to doctoral theses only). …………………………………………………………… ……………………………………..……………… 1 February 2019 Signature Witness Signature ……….……………………...…….… Date The University recognises that there may be exceptional circumstances requiring restrictions on copying or conditions on use. Requests for restriction for a period of up to 2 years must be made in writing. Requests for a longer period of restriction may be considered in exceptional circumstances and require the approval of the Dean of Graduate Research. FOR OFFICE USE ONLY Date of completion of requirements for Award: 2 b. Originality Statement I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and to the best of my knowledge it contains no materials previously published or written by another person, or substantial proportions of material which have been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma at UNSW or any other educational institution, except where due acknowledgement is made in the thesis. Any contribution made to the research by others, with whom I have worked at UNSW or elsewhere, is explicitly acknowledged in the thesis. I also declare that the intellectual content of this thesis is the product of my own work, except to the extent that assistance from others in the project's design and conception or in style, presentation and linguistic expression is acknowledged. Signed Date: 1 February 2019 3 COPYRIGHT STATEMENT 'I hereby grant the University of New South Wales or its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation in whole or part in the University libraries in all forms of media, now or here after known, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. I retain all proprietary rights, such as patent rights. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis or dissertation. I also authorise University Microfilms to use the 350 word abstract of my thesis in Dissertation Abstract International (this is applicable to doctoral theses only). I have either used no substantial portions of copyright material in my thesis or I have obtained permission to use copyright material; wher ermission has not been granted I have applied/will apply for a partial restricti f the digital copy of my thesis or dissertation.' Signed Date AUTHENTICITY STATEMENT 'I certify that the Library deposit digital copy is a direct equivalent of the final officially approved version of my thesis. No emendation of content has occurred and if there are any minor variations in formatting, they are the result of the conversion to digital format.' Signed Date e. Inclusion Of Publications Statement UNSW is supportive of candidates publishing their research results during their candidature as detailed in the UNSW Thesis Examination Procedure. Publications can be used in their thesis in lieu of a Chapter if: • The student contributed greater than 50% of the content in the publication and is the “primary author”, i.e. the student was responsible primarily for the planning, execution and preparation of the work for publication. • The student has approval to include the publication in their thesis in lieu of a Chapter from their supervisor and Postgraduate Coordinator. • The publication is not subject to any obligations or contractual agreements with a third party that would constrain its inclusion in the thesis. Please indicate whether this thesis contains published material or not. This thesis contains no publications, either published or submitted for ☒ publication CANDIDATE’S DECLARATION I declare that: • I have complied with the Thesis Examination Procedure • Where I have used a publication in lieu of a Chapter, the listed publication(s) below meet(s) the requirements to be included in the thesis. Name Signature Date (dd/mm/yy) BILL APTER 01/02/19 5 f. Acknowledgements In his The Government and the People, 1942-1945, Paul Hasluck compares his delay in delivering this, the second volume of his Official History of the war, to the kangaroo, which he explains: Prolongs the period of gestation when the season is unpropitious, and the offspring due to be born this season may not come until the next season, not by deliberate choice of the parents but by the dispensation of Nature. A similar phenomenon may be noted in the case of this volume.1 Hasluck uses this occurrence to justify his eighteen-year delay. How then should I explain an over thirty-year deferral between my initial planning to carry out postgraduate studies and the eventual outcome represented by this thesis? Perhaps it would be easiest to say that life in general rather than any specific gestation period was responsible! It also means that some of the people whom I consider to be initiators of this work have probably long forgotten their acts of inspiration. Fortunately, others have continued to be involved or became involved more recently and so will be more aware of their contribution. I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge their assistance. Firstly, my supervisors, Andrea Benvenuti and Lisa Ford, have been towers of strength and consistent sources of advice. I’m not sure whether they understand that this thesis would not have been finished without them but I do! Several people are responsible for generating my interest in carrying out the research and writing involved in a PhD. I want to thank them. As my tutor at Leeds, the late Phil Taylor was the first to make me consider what working as a historian would be like. Marne Hughes-Warrington convinced me that I should do it. Having started my research, I was delighted to find that existing experts were happy to take the time to discuss their work and even to read my drafts; in particular, Roger Bell, David Lee and Frank Bongiorno provided coffee and advice. I greatly appreciated both. I have always enjoyed libraries and appreciated their role in civil society. This is fortunate, as I have spent what seems to be an overwhelming proportion of my recent life in libraries and archives across the globe. These include the National 1 Paul Hasluck, The Government and the People, 1942-1945 (Canberra: Australian War Memorial, 1970), ix. 6 Archives of Australia, the National Library of Australia, the Reserve Bank of Australia Library, UNSW, Macquarie University, Ascham School, Woollahra and the City of Sydney Libraries, the US Library of Congress and National Archive, and the UK National Archive. I want to thank the staff working at these institutions and those who ensure that they are appropriately funded. In respect of finance, I also want to acknowledge the contributions by the Commonwealth Government and UNSW towards my fees and expenses. However, despite all this assistance, ultimately this thesis would not have been possible without Sian and Liam’s ongoing support, intellectual stimulation and love. They have been there for the entire journey and have calmly accepted its every stage.