[Australia]: Message to the United States [SEC=TOP SECRET]

[Owen]

​

PRIME MINISTER​

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION: TOP SECRET (Encrypted)​

25 July 1999​

Dear Mr. Ambassador, I would like to invite you to discussions at Parliament House on how we can reaffirm our long standing and historical alliance. Australia has no closer friend than the United States and we intend to continue that friendship. There are many things to discuss, and hopefully it can accumulate towards a state visit by either myself to the United States or the President visiting here. Either way, we need to start somewhere in order to build a firm bilateral relationship. We are extremely concerned about Sweden and the Israel situation. We believe we share similar stances with the United States on both issues, hence why I think this meeting is of the utmost importance. I look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely, P.J. Keating.

Parliament House, CANBERRA, ACT 2600 Telephone: (02) 6277 7700​

Protective Marking:	Business Impact Level:	Compromise of Information Confidentiality:	Required to be Encrypted:
UNOFFICIAL	No Business Impact	No damage. This information does not form part of official duty.
OFFICIAL	Low Business Impact	No or insignificant damage. This is the majority of routine information.
OFFICIAL: Sensitive	Low to Medium Business Impact	Limited damage to an individual, organisation or government generally if compromised.
PROTECTED	High Business Impact	Damage to the national interest, organisations or individuals.
SECRET	Extreme Business Impact	Serious damage to the national interest, organisations or individuals.
TOP SECRET	Catastrophic Business Impact	Exceptionally grave damage to the national interest, organisations or individuals.

Odinson

 

[Odinson]

Private​

Ambassador Jade Wolfe sent a secure response to P.J. Keating stating that she would be heading to Parliament House within the hour. She did in fact arrive forty minutes after the message was sent with some diplomatic papers, a blank notebook, and her cellular phone. She preferred to drive herself, so she did just that. With her came an intern from the State Department that was working at the American Embassy. The intern, who had a Masters in Global Affairs from Rice, would probably be an ambassador herself one day. The two women arrived to Parliament House with their diplomatic identification and waited to be allowed inside.

Owen

 

[Owen]

Parliamentary security would escort the two women up through the executive wing and into the Prime Minister's Office where he would be waiting.

"Mrs. Wolfe, it's a pleasure to meet you. Please take a seat." He would shake her hand and gesture to the coffee table and chairs.

He would take a seat.

"Now, I just want to say my Deputy Prime Minister has come back from a meeting with the Swedish which was... rocky, to say the least. We attempted to regain the sovereignty of the Heard and McDonald Islands which they.... well we like to describe them as being "accidentally" handed over to Sweden at the conclusion of the Global Assembly's Antarctic Resolution, but I feel like given their inability to do that it was intentionally put into the resolution and unfortunately looked over by us when it was being debated in the Assembly. They've refused and we have made it clear to them that any relationship must be built on the foundation of them handing back what had been Australian territory since 1947. I think it's clear to us that Sweden is not looking for friends in this world and so we've turned back to focusing on our more traditional alliances: with the United States and the United Kingdom. We are gravely concerned about their actions not just in South Africa, but also in Antarctica. Whilst we agree the original premise of their operation in South Africa was right and just, ridding the country of its murderous Apartheid regime, I can't help but feel like they intend on being there forever. Their refusal to commit to handing back the uninhabited and isolated islands which they supposedly accidentally inherited just goes to show that they are hell bent on neo-colonialism. Same with their control of the entire continent of Antarctica and their previous actions towards our scientists there. Why should we be lead to believe that South Africa is any different? The Office of National Intelligence has given me a blunt assessment that they believe Sweden intends to remain in South Africa for the long run. I happen to agree with that.

Now whilst America does not have immediate threats from Sweden, since the conclusion of the Antarctic Resolution, we do. They are in our former territory, they are in Antarctica adjacent to the Australian mainland and they are across the Indian Ocean in South Africa. To say we need the United States at this crucial time is an understatement. We are in real danger here if Sweden sees Australia in their neo-colonial ambitions. We need to re-affirm our alliance and look to strengthening it. We need to make sure the Australian Defence Force is well-equipped with the latest American equipment and of course we need to look towards mutual cooperation.

I want to start by offering the United States, or perhaps re-offering, full military access to our bases. That gives you access to Fleet Base West in Perth, strategically positioned on the rim of the Indian Ocean with full logistical access to fleet support, medical and hospital services, fuel, food, water and of course R&R. This is among a full network of Royal Australian Navy bases which you will have access to including Fleet Base East in Sydney. The United States Air Force will have full access to RAAF bases to be able to refuel and R&R and with the Defence Department's permission: position and re-arm themselves there. We are fully committed to re-affirming this alliance, Jade."

Odinson

 

[Odinson]

"Your government's assessment is extremely concerning but, unfortunately, it's not that surprising. The Swedish ambassador to the Global Assembly repeatedly refused to answer our questions and didn't even bother to deny that his government wants to, in so many words, own South Africa. I'm starting to fear that the Antarctic Treaty was our modern Munich Agreement... Some of our international partners have publicly condemned Sweden, while others have taken a much more neutral approach. As a matter of statistics, I suppose this is to be expected, but it's still striking. It baffles me how anyone can look at this situation objectively and not see a clear pattern of Swedish imperialism in the Southern Hemisphere. At this point, and this is just my own personal opinion, it looks like they're trying to sew together a patchwork of colonies and territories that will allow them to have some kind of global empire," she said in momentary contemplation.

"What you are offering is very significant, and generous. I will submit this information to the State Department as soon as I return to the embassy. We will graciously accept your offer of access to Australian ports and military facilities. We will need to write out a formal agreement, however I can have one sent over from the embassy. It shouldn't be too much trouble. With global tensions rising, the White House has become increasingly strict on what items are being sold to other countries around the world. There are obvious products, such as aircraft carriers, that we will not sell to anyone at this time. But there is a certain amount of room we can work within. What items in particular did you have in mind?" she asked.

Owen

 

[Owen]

"We are talking mainly in terms of Air Force equipment. We have sovereign Navy and Army building capabilities. We're talking F/A-18s, F-111s, C-17s, C-130Js, P-3s, and so on. The list is extensive when it comes to aircraft. We're also looking at purchasing the M1 Abrams as our main battle tank for the Army. We also need Blackhawks, Seahawks, etc. for Navy and Army Aviation. We will put in a formal request to American Defense Sales in due course. We're also looking to developing weapons with the United States and acquiring more weapons capabilities for our existing Air Force and Navy platforms. The United States needs to be rest assured that Australia is one of their closest allies. This alliance has bipartisan support across Parliament and we need to make sure the Australian Defence Force is well-equipped to reduce our reliance on the United States and to assist the United States across the globe in operations, undoubtedly operations which we see happening closer to home... As you said, the Swedish are looking at an imperial project across the Southern Hemisphere and this gravely concerns us. I don't think our assessment is extremely concerning at all. Yes, South Africa's government was horrendous. Did Sweden's activities remove that horrendous government? Yes. Do we agree that Sweden should still be there? Absolutely not. Should they leave immediately and hand over the country to GA control and peacekeeping? Absolutely. I don't think that's an unreasonable assessment, I hope the United States was on the same page with us in opposing the Apartheid regime.

Regardless of our assessments of the initial situation, we are on the same page with the situation now. We are committed to this alliance. We are hoping it will manifest itself into more formal agreements but in the mean time with the threat from Sweden, absolutely you can have access to our military facilities in order to transit through to the Southern Hemisphere.

We should also be committing to things beyond Defence. We should be looking at economic ties. A potential Free Trade Agreement. Ties between members of Congress and Parliament. And if you're willing, naming another navy vessel the USS Canberra, after the Baltimore-class Cruiser which was the first U.S. Navy ship to be named after a foreign capital. We will also look at naming a vessel HMAS Bataan, after the U.S. Battle of Bataan in the Philippines during WW2."

Odinson

 

[Owen]

"Sorry Jade, it appears they've called a party room meeting for a leadership ballot. I will speak to you later."

The Prime Minister would have to leave his office to go to the party room. There the party would hold a vote and the Prime Minister would lose it to Treasurer Kim Beazley. Kim Beazley was now the Leader of the Labor Party and was to be sworn in as Prime Minister the next day. The secretary of the Prime Minister's office would enter.

"Sorry Ms. Wolfe, the Prime Minister has lost the vote. We need to start clearing out this office. Umm.... we will organise a time for you to meet with the new Prime Minister when he's sworn in."

Jade would be escorted out of the building by Parliamentary security. A few days later after the swearing in of the new Prime Minister Kim Beazley, she would receive a letter.

​

PRIME MINISTER​

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION: TOP SECRET (Encrypted)​

4 August 1999​

Dear Ambassador Wolfe, I've been informed that you were unfortunately in the middle of a meeting with former Prime Minister Paul Keating when the party leadership ballot was called. I sincerely apologise for this and had I known, I would've postponed the leadership challenge. However, we're here now and I am now the Leader of the Labor Party and have been sworn in as the Prime Minister. However the writs for the election have been called, I am now in a caretaker role. I will still agree to meet with you to discuss our relationship, however I don't have the legal authority to sign off on any agreements due to the caretaker role. If I am re-elected as Prime Minister at the election, then we can move forward on signing more formal agreements. I want you to know that the Labor Party, regardless of who is in power will re-affirm our alliance to the United States, especially since me and Paul both hail from the more pro-American Labor Right faction. Yours sincerely, Kim Beazley.

Parliament House, CANBERRA, ACT 2600 Telephone: (02) 6277 7700​

Protective Marking:	Business Impact Level:	Compromise of Information Confidentiality:	Required to be Encrypted:
UNOFFICIAL	No Business Impact	No damage. This information does not form part of official duty.
OFFICIAL	Low Business Impact	No or insignificant damage. This is the majority of routine information.
OFFICIAL: Sensitive	Low to Medium Business Impact	Limited damage to an individual, organisation or government generally if compromised.
PROTECTED	High Business Impact	Damage to the national interest, organisations or individuals.
SECRET	Extreme Business Impact	Serious damage to the national interest, organisations or individuals.
TOP SECRET	Catastrophic Business Impact	Exceptionally grave damage to the national interest, organisations or individuals.

Odinson

 

[Odinson]

[TR][TD]

---

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR TO THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA​

---

ENCRYPTED MESSAGE​

[TR][TD]

TO: Kim Beazley, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia ( Owen )​

FROM: Jade Wolfe, Ambassador of the United States of America

Prime Minister,

You have no reason to apologize for the political functions of your country. I look forward to meeting with you, or whomever is finally elected as the Prime Minister of Australia. In the meantime, I would be happy to correspond with you in regards to the relationship between the United States and Australia. The State Department has instructed me to inform you that if your government were to submit a resolution to the Global Assembly to amend the Antarctic Treaty in order to get rid of the articles that specify that Antarctic territories are Swedish, we will support it. However, I must stress that you must propose this resolution, and word it, tactfully. While we entirely disagree, the Secretary General derailed the recent resolution proposed by the United States and Korea (and supported by virtually all of the other governments of the world) because the Global Assembly supposedly cannot strip territory from a member state.

With that being said, if you amend the Antarctic Resolution so that it no longer includes the provisions that recognize the Antarctic territories as Swedish, this would not be authorizing any nation to take this territory, nor would the Global Assembly be taking or giving territory to any nation. It would simply make it possible to seize Antarctic territory presently occupied Sweden without violating a Global Assembly Resolution. I trust that you understand what I'm saying here, but I would be happy to explain it further if necessary.

Best Regards,

Jade Wolfe
United States Ambassador to Australia
​

[/TD][/TR][/TD][/TR]

 

[Owen]

​

PRIME MINISTER​

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION: TOP SECRET (Encrypted)​

10 August 1999​

Dear Ambassador Wolfe, I have been re-elected, a new Parliament and Cabinet have been sworn in and we have a new National Security Committee and Administrative Arrangements (Departments). After that has now been sorted we can return to our important high-level meeting. I am re-inviting you to join me at my office in Parliament House. I hope to see you soon. Yours sincerely, Kim Beazley.

Parliament House, CANBERRA, ACT 2600 Telephone: (02) 6277 7700​

Protective Marking:	Business Impact Level:	Compromise of Information Confidentiality:	Required to be Encrypted:
UNOFFICIAL	No Business Impact	No damage. This information does not form part of official duty.
OFFICIAL	Low Business Impact	No or insignificant damage. This is the majority of routine information.
OFFICIAL: Sensitive	Low to Medium Business Impact	Limited damage to an individual, organisation or government generally if compromised.
PROTECTED	High Business Impact	Damage to the national interest, organisations or individuals.
SECRET	Extreme Business Impact	Serious damage to the national interest, organisations or individuals.
TOP SECRET	Catastrophic Business Impact	Exceptionally grave damage to the national interest, organisations or individuals.

Odinson

 

[Owen]

Odinson

 

[Odinson]

Private​

Ambassador Wolfe returned to Parliament House in the same manner she had traveled before, except this time two Diplomatic Security Service agents escorted her and her young pupil there. The Australians were of course securely told in advance before she left the Embassy so that she would arrive at an appropriate time that was suitable for both the American delegation and the Australian government, and their newly-elected Prime Minister. A secure message was sent to the State Department to directly inform the Deputy Secretary of State that she was going to be discussing sensitive affairs about South Africa and the contested Australian islands with the Australians.

Owen

 

[Owen]

She would be welcomed back to Parliament House and would be escorted by Parliamentary Security Officers from the entrance to the Executive Wing and to the Prime Minister's Office.

The Prime Minister would stand up from his desk and go up to Jade to shake her hand.

"Ah Ambassador Wolfe, I'm Kim Beazley. Sorry about all those interruptions we had. First a leadership ballot for the Labor Party and then I had to call a federal election. Mr. Keating sends his regards. He decided not to run again for his seat, so he is no longer in Parliament. Please, take a seat."

He would sit down at the coffee table and chairs.

"I believe you left off with Mr. Keating talking about equipment. Jade, we need to be properly armed if we are able to defend ourselves against the threats of Sweden and others, if we are going to assist the United States in combating these threats. I'm sure you're well aware of that. I believe Mr. Keating mentioned that we mainly need Air Force equipment from the United States because overall we have pretty good indigenous Army and Navy equipment. The Air Force are looking to acquire F/A-18s, F-111s, C-17s, C-130Js, P-3s. I believe these are the main components. That's the short-term, in the long-term we may be looking at expanding capabilities in conjunction with the United States. The Army also wish to purchase 90 M1A1 Abrams for their main battle tank fleet. Not a whole lot, but I believe that the most important element is not purchasing that equipment but working with the United States in the long term to develop equipment, to expand our capabilities into more lucrative products. That's where the trust needs to be built. We think this is necessary given the Swedish actions across the Southern Hemisphere... our hemisphere and the mutual stance we find ourselves in with the United States. The United States-Australia alliance has bipartisan support in Parliament and you can be rest assured regardless of which government is in power, the equipment is in the right hands and we remain committed to the United States.

But we need to also look beyond Defence. We have already established a U.S./Australia Parliamentary Friendship Group, with 40% of the members of Parliament signing up. We would also appreciate a "Friends of Australia Congressional Caucus". Our legislative bodies are very similar... a Senate, a House of Representatives. We share a lot in terms of democracy and the democratic process and so strengthening those ties between lawmakers is very necessary. We would also like an annual summit between our Defence and Foreign Affairs and State Ministers and Secretaries known as AUSMIN to alternate between our two countries. We could definitely establish a Free Trade Agreement as well.

We have also named an Adelaide-class Frigate HMAS Bataan after the Battle of Bataan where the United States defended the Philippines against Japan. We weren't involved in that battle, the naming is solely solidarity with the United States and it is the only Adelaide-class Frigate that isn't named after an Australian city but rather a United States battle. As I'm aware the United States Navy had a Baltimore-class cruiser named the USS Canberra, decommissioned in 1970, the only United States Navy ship named after a foreign capital. We would like to sponsor another United States Navy ship to be named the USS Canberra."

Odinson

 

[Owen]

Odinson

 

[Odinson]

Private
​

"Prime Minister," the ambassador said as she shook hands with him. "The White House has asked me to congratulate you on the President's behalf for you and your party's successful election to governance. I am hopeful that your newly elected government will be very productive in the years to come," she said. The Ambassador listened closely to everything that the new Prime Minister had to say, from the purchase of equipment to the naming of a new Navy ship after Canberra.

"I am happy to hear that the Commonwealth is so interested in strengthening the relationship between our nations. I'll try to respond to things in the order that you've told me," she said, going through the mental list in her head. "First, what quantity of the F/A-18s, F-111s, C-17s, C-130Js, and P-3s would you be interested in purchasing? Some of these items, I think including the Abrams, will need the direct approval of President Gore due to existing Executive Orders that have been written by the President. In fact, to my knowledge, we have only sold the F-18 once in a general auction, and have sense then not exported it to any other nation. However... we could possibly negotiate its export, anything is possible," she said with a small smile.

"Your idea for AUSMIN is very interesting, I will be sure to pass this along to the State Department. I think regular talks like that, along with possible military exercises regardless of size, would go a long way to building our relationship. Considering we are on other sides of the planet, I think that we both have a lot to offer to each other strategically," she said.

"I will be sure to pass on your offer to the Navy. As far as I can remember, the Congress recently allocated money for more ships to be built, I'm sure many of which do not have names designated for them yet," she said.

"Finally, I wanted to inform you - and please keep this on a need-to-know basis," she said, "we are holding high-stakes talks with the Swedish in London. While some of our allies have advised us against this, it's the hope of the federal government that Sweden is as interested in resolving this situation peacefully as we are. One of our conditions for meeting was that Sweden must agree to withdrawing from South Africa, and that they will recognize it as a legitimate independent nation. I can only hope that these talks go smoothly, and quickly, so that things can cool down. However, only time will tell," she said.

Owen

 

[Owen]

"Lemme just look at my notes here..."

He would take a look at the notes prepared to him by the Minister for Defence.

"75 F/A-18s, 24 F-111s, 8 C-17s, 12 C-130Js and 20 P-3s."

He would scroll down to the Army's procurements.

"90 M1A1 Abrams which will become the main piece of equipment for the 1st Armoured Regiment. We do not need a lot of tanks, we don't border any country by land so it's not a necessity. They will mainly be used in expeditionary operations, most likely with the United States or in the very unlikely chance there is an amphibious invasion of Australia they would be able to fend off that invading force until reinforcements arrive.

Definitely we should be doing regular exercises, re-introduce the biennial Talisman Sabre exercise along with others."

He would listen closely to what was being said about Sweden.

"That's good to hear Jade. Anything to get a diplomatic solution to this problem we are behind. We know for a fact that Sweden is a very capable country that can contribute a lot to the world and to the advancement of global peace, but they have constantly made the wrong decisions. I think it is time for them to be making the right decisions. If possible, we would like it if during these talks you bring up the status of Antarctica, including the relinquishment of sub-antarctic islands or at least get them to agree to move forward with amendments to the Resolution on Antarctica. The United States would be doing this as a friend and ally to Australia and we would be indebted to you if the issue was at least brought up. We're not asking for a solution to it, but to make Sweden know that the United States is paying close attention to what is occuring in the Southern Ocean and stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Australia." The Prime Minister would smile.

Odinson

 

[Odinson]

Private​

"The United States normally does not export the F/A-18, however I know that the White House will make an exception in this one instance. I know that American Defense Sales has put a freeze on new purchases. I already made a few calls and put your order to the front of the queue.... I swear that place is the international equivalent of the DMV," she said.

"Would you be willing to perhaps expand upon Australia's current feelings towards the situation between Turkey and Israel? At this time we are trying to juggle both it, and the situation in South Africa," she said.

Owen

 

[Owen]

"We're glad that if America is going to make an exception to any country that it be Australia...

We believe that our utmost priority must be on the situation in the Middle East, Sweden and South Africa and Antarctica needs to come second. In fact right now it is not occupying an inch of our energy, we are entirely focused on the Middle East. We're talking about the potential destruction of the State of Israel and the genocide of 8 million Jews and the threat that Turkey poses is immediate. That must take priority over a land and independence dispute. Our Navy is currently moving into the Gulf of Aden and is in a prime position to deny Saudi Arabia their involvement in this conflict. Sweden has also committed to assist in the Middle East and has pledged their allegiance to Israel, we may see quite the rennaissance in Swedish-Australia relations following this conflict. Hopefully your peace talks in London go well and we can also see the same happen between Sweden and the United States. The one thing about Sweden is they have a respect for diplomacy, they can engage with us respectfully. Turkey cannot. Turkey is off the rails.

Prime Minister Bennett and Deputy Prime Minister Livni of Israel has just landed in Hobart, Tasmania and Turkish President Milmaz is from what I gathered, inbound to Hobart. We're going to have the top leaders from both Turkey and Israel descending on Tasmania for a summit hosted by the Premier of Tasmania, Jim Bacon. The federal government didn't sanction this but we will not stand in their way, Mr. Bacon is free to do as he pleases and invite whoever he pleases into his state. I wish him all the best. We are however, planning on conducting internal espionage in Tasmania through the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation. Mr. Bacon doesn't know about this and we frankly want to make sure the Tasmanian Government doesn't know about it but we will be monitoring the activities, phone calls and what not of the leaders whilst they are in Tasmania. This is quite the odd invitation but... we are open to allow the CIA to set themselves up in Tasmania. Not every day you open your doors to foreign espionage but I will allow it on this occasion because this is not something done by us in the federal government."

Odinson

 

[Owen]

"Jade, we are extremely disappointed that the Defence Department has blocked our production of the M1A1 Abrams. That was the variant we asked for, so we're unaware why our LPL would be issued for the original variant when that was not the one we asked for. The options should've been to give us the LPL for it or to inform us the A1 wasn't available for LPL in the first place. We thought the LPL being issued for the original one might've been a mistake on their behalf but apparently your Defence Department deliberately gave us the wrong LPL. This is not going to do good for our relationship, we feel cheated and feel that American Defence Sales is not being transparent with us. We were ready to welcome the 90 tanks into our Army and they were frankly, gearing up for deployment to the Middle East. Those plans will now have to be delayed even further. This is simply not how friends treat other friends and I want to make it known our disappointment with the Defence Department over this and I hope you can fix this with them."

Odinson

 

[Owen]

Odinson

 

[Odinson]

Private​

Jade twitched, went outside and made a secure phone call, and came back in. "Prime Minister, have your government try to produce the Abrams again and it will make it past the Defense Department. It is regrettable that your plans had to be delayed, but you can now move forward with them," she said. The first connection Jade had in the Defense Department effectively told her to go fuck herself because federal law forbid the export of Abrams without Presidential approval, but luckily her White House connection was able to get the President to agree to it right before he left for Mount Vernon.

Owen

 

[Owen]

"Thank you very much Jade, I'm glad we could clear that up.

I want to bring this conversation back to Sweden. Now that the Middle East has died down and we are yet to see any conflict, our attention is being drawn back to the Southern Hemisphere. At the moment, our Attorney-General is in high-level talks with the Swedish to regain the former Australian Antarctic Territory. I would like to know what the United States position is on this matter, as you've made it clear your stance against Sweden and its occupation of South Africa, we must not also forget they have their tentacles stretched even further across the Southern Hemisphere. If I'm being frank with you, it is a strategic nightmare. If Sweden are militarising the Southern Ocean, which we have intelligence to suggest they are, they can attack Australia from our most vulnerable point. Our defence is focused on the north, towards Asia, we didn't envision threats from Antarctica. Obviously it will continue to be towards Asia, as if a threat emerged there we have no doubt it would be larger, but there are none currently."

Odinson