RESTRICTED
Keating's vision
10. Allan Hawke was particularly interesting on Mr Keating as a leader. Keating had a clear vision of where Australia was going and was interested in everything related to that vision, ranging from sewerage to APEC. He believed that Australia remained under-populated and needed a population of 25 million to be viable. Issues outside the vision left Keating cold. For example, he was not an intelligence "junkie" like his predecessor, Bob Hawke, and had shown no interest at CHOGM in issues such as the Belize-Guatemala dispute. Keating had a long-standing interest in foreign affairs and security issues (to which he had devoted his maiden speech in parliament), but before becoming Prime Minister had not really had the opportunity to speak out on them.
Notwithstanding the public perception and his views on the Republic, Keating had a great admiration for Britain and the British. During his visit to the UK in September, he had been greatly impressed by the comments of the Secretary of State (then visiting Australia) on the modern
British-Australian relationship, comments which indeed he had publicly quoted with approval in London.
Conclusion
14. I have kept the classification of this letter at Restricted. Hawke and Gyngell were speaking fairly openly, so please protect some of the more sensitive comments. However, perhaps I might leave it to you to decide on any wider distribution of the letter that might seem desirable."
Ieluxe Guest:
новится
Сис
Melville Guest WH 219 270 3468
RESTRICTED
3
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.