TNAG-2917-FCO40-4192-International-support-from-Australasia-regarding-the-future--1993 — Page 20

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15 November 1993

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High Commission Canberra

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This looks like a logical (and potentially valuable) extension of our existing practice v-a-v the Ausstations.

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We should need to agree Fco line of course: Should!

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2

Commonwealth Avenue

Yarralumla

Canberra, ACT 2600

Telephone: (06) 270 6666

43

express to SPD our gone Facsimile: (General) - (06) 273 3236 (or contact DPA first?)

(Commercial/Economic) - (06) 273 4360

(Chancery) - (06) 270 6653

Telex: AA 62222

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BRITISH AND AUSTRALIAN DIPLOMATIC REPORTING

Summary

1.

RECE

INDE

2 9 NOV 1993

Office of National Assessments (ONA) seeking to widen their net of information sources: float possibility of enhanced exchange of diplomatic reporting (Canadians already sharing widely). Good reasons to maintain if not enhance exchange of information and analyses with Australia: strengthens dialogue and we have much to gain from Australian insights in areas where they are particularly well represented (mainly north and south-east Asia). But need to check DFAT's willingness to reciprocate. May be scope for electronic copying of reports on model of Australia's arrangement with Canada. Instructions requested.

Detail

2.

I had lunch recently with Dr Doug Kean, Special Adviser (with Deputy Director status) at ONA (JIC-Assessments Staff equivalent). Kean had flagged in advance that one subject he wanted to discuss was the possibility of ONA receiving British diplomatic reporting to help it reach the most soundly-based assessments possible.

ONA's Interest in British Diplomatic Reporting

3.

Kean duly raised this, explaining that ONA were seeking to maximise their range of information and intelligence sources. In addition to intelligence material, they received Australian diplomatic reporting and now saw a considerable amount of Canadian diplomatic traffic (under a new bilateral arrangement a wide range of Canadian diplomatic reporting is now routed telegraphically to DFAT: details at Annex A). He knew that the British DS was held in high regard and wondered if it would be possible for us to share with ONA British diplomatic reporting on areas of particular interest to Australia, which he identified as political, strategic and economic issues affecting China (and Hong Kong), Japan, the Korean Peninsula,

CONFIDENTIAL

ISTRY

JCA Takai