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Malaysia and India. Indonesia and PNG were not included in Kean's initial shopping list because of the scale of Australian diplomatic activity in those countries. He was specific about India rather than the Sub-Continent, commenting that Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka hardly featured at the moment on the Australian radar screen.
Current Practice
4. I told Kean that I already passed a wide range of despatches ('Q' distribution) and some of our inward telegram material to DFAT on an ad hoc basis, and would henceforth also pass copies to him at ONA. I had not earlier copied material direct to ONA, believing (wrongly) that DFAT would copy our material further as appropriate. We both noted that in some ways it was ironic, when our respective intelligence agencies worked hand-in-glove and the sharing of sensitive intelligence
exchange of diplomatic reporting had not become more point. institutionalised.
fuirlish) material was accepted practice, that a British-Australian
Yes bur
5.
It is not appropriate in all cases to copy to DFAT or ONA the full text of telegrams likely to be of interest to the Australians. But one of the great advantages of our SCOUT (M) system is that texts, including telegrams, can be edited with ease: removing comments of potential sensitivity vis-à-vis the Australians is now a quick and easy exercise. My contacts in DFAT have always been grateful for a sight of an alternative fophy analysis or for coverage of a development not reported by
Australian (or Canadian) missions: this applies particularly to law.
areas of the world where Australian overseas representation is thin, such as in Africa.
much scope
Murphy's
Can we and should we do more?
6.
Our objectives include maintaining a broad-based political dialogue with Australia and sustaining and widening the official level dialogue on international questions generally, and the Pacific Rim in particular (Chancery Short-Term Objectives 1 and 2). Being able to draw on reporting and analysis from colleagues in the region (and elsewhere) and, when appropriate, to pass on texts of interest is an important means of achieving strengthened dialogue. Three or four years ago, we reminded relevant posts and FCO departments of our interest in dialogue with the Australians and asked that this be borne in mind when letters and telegrams of comment and analysis were prepared, with a view to copying texts to us. Corporate memories fade, and we see less of this sort of material than we did a year or so ago.
CONFIDENTIAL
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