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

[Owen]

​

CHIEF OF NAVY​

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION: SECRET (ENCRYPTED)​

2 June 2005

Dear Admiral Porter, One of the most important relationships I have the honour of maintaining as Australia's Chief of Navy is with the Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet. As you may be aware, Australia is uniquely in a position to have direct access to the Pacific, Indian and Southern Oceans, the only nation with that privilege. Whilst Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia are able to have access to both the Indian and Pacific Oceans, as far as our Defence Intelligence is aware we are the only nation that maintains a significant naval presence on both, with fleet bases on both sides of the country including naval air bases. We're also the only nation to maintain a sophisticated defence communications network with the ability to communicate across the Pacific and Indian Oceans through the Australian Defence Force Modernised High Frequency Communications System. As apart of this network we maintain the Naval Communication Station Harold E. Holt near Exmouth, Western Australia. This site is the most powerful transmission station in the Southern Hemisphere with a transmission power of 1 megawatt. It has the ability to communicate with ships and submarines across the western Pacific and eastern Indian Oceans. With a frequency of 19.8kHz it provides a very low frequency ability to be able to communicate with submarines deep in the ocean. Originally it was constructed by the United States as U.S. Naval Communication Station North West Cape, since 1974 we have maintained a joint operation on the facility and since 1993 only the Royal Australian Navy uses the facility. I would like to see a U.S. presence returned to the facility. We've also highlighted the site for potential construction of space surveillance facilities in the future. I would like it if I could visit Hawaii and visit the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor in order to sit down and discuss these many areas of cooperation between our two navies which we think will benefit both of us quite strongly, particularly in light of evolving regional challenges. Yours sincerely, Vice Admiral Russ Crane.

Russell Offices, CANBERRA, ACT 2600 Telephone: (02) 6144 9190​

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]

---

OFFICE OF THE COMMANDER OF THE U.S. PACIFIC FLEET​

---

ENCRYPTED MESSAGE​

TO: Vice Admiral Russ Crane, Chief of the Royal Australian Navy ( Owen )

FROM: Admiral Thomas Porter, Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet

Vice Admiral Crane,

I have spoken with the Secretary of The Navy, and he agrees with me that a visit by you to Pearl Harbor would likely be very productive for both of our navies, and our countries.

Once of President Sinclair's first official acts as commander-in-chief was to ensure that the United States would once again have a global naval presence. While that is still a work in progress, preliminary steps have already been taken. It has become quite clear to the Federal Government, and several of our partners around the world, that a lack of presence by the United States Navy is not a benefit to global stability. With that being said, I would be very interested to talk to you about the naval facilities that you mentioned, as well as Naval Communication Station Harold E. Holt. In addition to those items, we can also discuss the possibility of future joint operations, regardless of the size, between our navies so that we can work together as regional partners.

I look forward to meeting you in person.​

Very Respectfully,

Thomas Porter
Admiral, Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet
​

​

 

[Owen]

The Vice Admiral would cringe as he read the top line addressed to "Chief of the Royal Australian Navy", as the service branch chiefs were known as Chief of Navy, Chief of Army and Chief of Air Force and in a foreign context would have it prefaced with "Australia's" or followed by ", Australia".

​

CHIEF OF NAVY​

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION: SECRET (ENCRYPTED)​

2 June 2005

Dear Admiral Porter, Thank you for your timely response. I shall be arriving in the coming days. Yours sincerely, Vice Admiral Russ Crane.

Russell Offices, CANBERRA, ACT 2600 Telephone: (02) 6144 9190​

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.

The Chief of Navy, while not usually entitled to Royal Australian Air Force VIP aircraft, would have a Dassault Falcon 7X granted for his use for this trip due to their extended availability and the overseas nature of it. He would be accompanied by Aide-de-Camp's and the aircraft would travel from RAAF Base Fairbairn in Canberra to Hickham Air Force Base in Hawaii. He would be greeted by the Australian Consul-General in Honolulu, Mrs. Jane Hardy and Mrs. Sally Timbs the Australian Defence Liasion in the State of Hawaii.

​

Odinson

 

[Odinson]

Secret​

Vice Admiral Russ Crane would land safely with his entourage in Hawaii at Hickam Air Force Base. Once the aircraft had landed, it was directed to the appropriate taxiway and gate so that they could deplane. Waiting for them would be senior officials from the U.S. Pacific fleet as well as representatives from the State Department. The Australian representatives were escorted to U.S. Pacific Fleet headquarters at Pearl Harbor, and eventually to the office of Admiral Porter who was wearing his dress white uniform. Admiral Porter welcomed Vice Admiral Crane into his office and, if he was willing, would shake his hand.

"Admiral, welcome to Pearl Harbor. We'll have something more formal tonight, but I like getting down to brass tax before dealing with formalities and parties. I hope that you don't mind us getting down to business after your plane flight - I've had a long day myself," he said as he poured both of them a glass of ice water. Porter offered Crane a seat in his office, on a sofa across from another sofa, which had a coffee table in the middle. He would seat on one couch while Crane was welcome to sit on the other.

Owen

 

[Owen]

Vice Admiral Russ Crane would also be wearing his white dress uniform, the Officer Summer Non-Ceremonial Day Dress variant, which included short-sleeved but long pants with insignia on the shoulders. The Vice Admiral would reach out for a handshake.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Admiral. Let me introduce to you my Aide-de-Camp, Commodore Harry Nixon and the Australian Defence Liasion in the State of Hawaii, Mrs. Sally Timbs.

We are keen to discuss business." He would wait for the door to close.

"I think it's been highlighted as a priority by both of our governments to see closer cooperation between our Navies. This is the largest ocean in the world and it is highly contested. We have numerous threats to freedom of navigation and shipping lanes. Europe's trade with Asia rests solely on the Singapore Straits and the Strait of Malacca. As you can imagine Admiral.... there are a few problems in that vicinity. Australia also projects itself as an Indian Ocean power, which always seems to find itself in trouble, particularly around the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf end. A vast continent with multiple gateways to multiple bodies of water is certainly one that the United States Navy would see potential in and we want to unlock those potentials."

Odinson

 

[Odinson]

Secret​

"Commodore, Mrs. Timbs, it is nice to meet you both. Thank you for taking the time to come all of the way to Hawaii to sit down and talk," he said as they were seated in the private office with some available refreshments.

"I know that the White House, the Pentagon, and the Secretary of The Navy all agree that a close working partnership and relationship with the United States is crucial. We especially see the Australian Royal Navy the best possible partner in the region. President Sinclair has prioritized the global deployment of American Naval assets. During the past administration, these deployments mostly consisted of carrier battle groups that sailed around the United States, the Pacific, the Atlantic, and the Mediterranean. The Pentagon wants to see a larger number of deployments on the high seas, but while also using smaller patrols so that a larger area can be covered," he said.

"The White House wants to decrease global tensions, and our presence on the high seas has historically done so. If the Australian Navy wants to work with us to achieve that mission in the Pacific and Indian oceans and connecting seas, then I think that we can certainly work together on that mission. What would be the most helpful is, as you suggested, if we can once again start operating Naval Communication Station Harold E. Holt and U.S. Naval Communication Station North West Cape.

"From what it sounds, and correct me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like this would be a long-term partnership between our navies. In that case, in order to decrease the stress of logistics on a massive scale, the Navy would need one or two facilities to use as a base for refueling and replenishing. Preferably, if your government would allow it, I think it would be advantageous for the Pacific Fleet to permanently station a squadron of submarines and possibly one or two squadrons of surface ships in Australia. Do you think that is something that your government would be willing to permit?" he asked, and then took a sip of water.

Owen

 

[Owen]

"Royal Australian Navy...." He would say to himself in his head.

"Certainly, all Royal Australian Navy bases are open to your forces to replenishment and refuel. Sydney, Perth and Darwin have larger reserves of fuel if you required an entire fleet to be refuelled but fuel is accessible at any of the bases or depots, including those primarily used for training.

In terms of joint bases and stations. The Government is open to returning Harold E. Holt to a joint facility. There are facilities in the town of Exmouth which can house U.S. Navy personnel and we're open to you stationing those personnel, communications operators primarily as well as a Naval Security Group detachment. The Australian Federal Police does provide security to the facility, but we are always open to strengthening that.

In terms of stationing forces, we are open to having up to four U.S. submarines, a squadron, on a rotation basis through Australia. Preferably this would be done at Fleet Base West in Perth, due to its access to the Indian Ocean given that the United States already has many bases in the Pacific and also the fact our submarine base is in Sydney at HMAS Platypus and there are none in Perth. Surface ships could also be stationed in Australia at either Sydney, Perth, Darwin, Cairns or Dampier. We are open to having smaller U.S. surface ships, such as the Celestial-class, Independence-class or Freedom-class, based in those latter three northern bases. Larger vessels would need to be in either Sydney or Perth."

He would slide over an agreement in regards to Naval Communication Station Harold E. Holt.

"Sorry for the extremely long title."

Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the United States of America relating to the Operation of and Access to an Australian Naval Communication Station at North West Cape in Western Australia

AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF AUSTRALIA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA RELATING TO THE OPERATION OF AND ACCESS TO AN AUSTRALIAN NAVAL COMMUNICATION STATION AT NORTH WEST CAPE IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA​

THE GOVERNMENT OF AUSTRALIA (in this Agreement called "the Australian Government") AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (in this Agreement called "the United States Government"); DESIRING to cooperate further in efforts for collective defense and for the preservation of peace and security; and CONSIDERING that the maintenance and operation of an Australian naval communication station at North West Cape in Western Australia and considering that the granting to the United States the right to guaranteed access and use of that base will materially contribute to that end; HAVE AGREED as follows:

Article 1​

In accordance with the terms and conditions set out in this Agreement, the Australian Government shall maintain and operate a naval communication station (in this Agreement called "the station") at North West Cape in the State of Western Australia.

Article 2​

The Australian Government shall, for the duration of this Agreement, grant to the United States Government all necessary rights of access to and use of the station, its facilities, and services, subject to the provisions of this Agreement and in accordance with technical arrangements made between the cooperating agencies of the two Governments. For the purposes of this Agreement, on the part of the Australian Government, the cooperating agency shall be the Australian Department of Defence, and on the part of the United States Government, the cooperating agency shall be the Department of the Navy.

Article 3​

(1) The two Governments will consult from time to time at the request of either Government on any matters connected with the station and its use. (2) Except with the express consent of the Australian Government, the station will not be used for any purpose other than defense communication.

Article 4​

The communication services of the station shall be available to the Australian and United States armed forces. The cooperating agencies shall mutually determine technical arrangements for the use of the station. United States use of the station shall be in accordance with the Australian Government’s policy of full knowledge and concurrence.

Article 5​

Equipment, materials, supplies and other property imported into or acquired in Australia by or on behalf of the United States Government free of taxes, shall not be disposed of within Australia except under conditions to be agreed by the two Governments.

Article 6​

(1) Income derived wholly and exclusively from performance in Australia of any contract with the United States Government in connection with the maintenance or operation of the station by any person or company (other than a company incorporated in Australia) being a contractor, sub-contractor, or one of its personnel, who is in or is carrying on business in Australia solely for the purpose of such performance, shall be deemed not to have been derived in Australia, provided that it is not exempt, and is taxed, under the taxation laws of the United States. Such contractors, subcontractors and personnel, and the dependents of any of the above other than those persons who, immediately before becoming dependents, were and at all times thereafter have continued to be ordinarily resident in Australia, will not be subject to Australian tax in respect of income derived from sources outside Australia. (2) Where the legal incidence of any form of taxation in Australia depends upon residence or domicile, periods during which such contractors, subcontractors, personnel and dependents are in Australia solely in connection with the maintenance or operation of the station shall not be considered as periods of residence therein, or as creating a change of residence or domicile, for the purposes of such taxation. (3) Personal property which is situated in Australia solely by reason of such contractors, sub-contractors, personnel and dependents being in Australia, or carrying on business in Australia, wholly and exclusively in connection with the performance in Australia of a contract or contracts with the United States Government in connection with the maintenance or operation of the station shall, in respect of the holding by, transfer by reason of the death of, or transfer to or by, those persons or companies, be exempt from taxation under the laws of the Australian Government relating to estate and gift duty. (4) The last preceding paragraph shall apply only if the property concerned is subject, and is taxed under the laws of the United States relating to estate or gift tax, and shall not apply in relation to- (a) property held as, or for the purpose of, an investment; (b) intangible property registered, and copyright subsisting, in Australia; or (c) property held in connection with the carrying on in Australia of any business not otherwise referred to in this Article.​ (5) A person or company shall not be disqualified from being a contractor, sub-contractor or one of their personnel in respect of whom this Article applies by reason only of the contractor or sub-contractor having undertaken the performance in Australia of a contract for the United States Government in connection with activities, other than the station, agreed upon by the two Governments.

Article 7​

(1) The Australian Government shall take the necessary steps to facilitate the admission into Australia of all equipment, materials, supplies and other property provided by or on behalf of the United States Government in connection with activities under this Agreement. Duties, taxes or like charges shall not be levied on such property which is certified at the time of entry as or intended to be the property of the United States Government. (2) Australian indirect taxes shall be paid through a procedure whereby any such taxes incurred in respect of equipment, materials, supplies and other property and services purchased in Australia which are certified as being for use in connection with the activities under this Agreement and which are not for resale, provided that such property shall become the property of the United States Government prior to use in Australia, shall be paid by the Australian Department of Defence on behalf of the United States Government, Australian goods and services tax legislation having no provision for exemption.

Article 8​

The United States Government may lease from the Australian Government communication services within Australia and to overseas destinations and may establish and operate radio circuits as required for the passing of defense communications. The radio frequencies, powers, bandwidths and other technical details shall be mutually determined by the cooperating agencies of the two Governments. The United States Government shall take all practicable measures to keep to a minimum all types of electronic interference from its radio transmitters. Such measures shall, pursuant to any current or future international treaty and the regulations thereunder, be particularly applicable in the case of harmful interference to established radio services.

Article 9​

The cost of operation, maintenance, modernization, alteration and repair of the station shall be shared by the two Governments in accordance with technical arrangements made between the cooperating agencies.

Article 10​

Technical arrangements implementing this Agreement shall be made by the cooperating agencies of the two Governments to determine, among other matters, the command and control, financial, security, and other responsibilities of the appropriate authorities of the two Governments for participation in the maintenance, operation of and access to the station, its facilities and services.

Article 11​

The United States shall be compensated by the Australian Government for the residual value, if any, of the buildings and equipment constructed or improved since 1963 at the station at the expense of the United States Government and not removed on termination of this Agreement. The amount and manner of compensation will be set forth by the Governments’ cooperating agencies in a separate technical arrangement.

Article 12​

This Agreement shall enter into force following signature and upon the date on which the Government of Australia notifies the Government of the United States of America that domestic procedures required for its entry into force in Australia have been satisfied. This Agreement shall remain in force for an initial period of twenty-five years and, absent notification of termination, shall continue in effect for periods of five years. Either Government may terminate this Agreement upon one year’s written notice to the other Government.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, duly authorized by their respective Governments, have signed this Agreement. DONE at Honolulu, in duplicate, this eighteenth day of June 2005.

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF AUSTRALIA:​	FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:​

Odinson

 

[Odinson]

Secret​

"Admiral, I personally think this is a wonderful and well-written treaty. Unfortunately, as an office in the United States Navy, I cannot legally negotiate treaties or international agreements during peace times unless specifically granted that power by the President. With that being said, I do not see why the Federal Government would disagree with any part of this proposed treaty. What I will do is pass this along to the Secretary of The Navy, and he can bring it to the attention of the secretaries of Defense and State so that the President can review it. Between you and me, I think that this will be something approved pretty quickly.

"As the Commander of the Pacific Fleet, the idea of stationing a squadron of submarines, and perhaps a frigate squadron of Celestials, is an exciting prospect. I think that this is a fantastic opportunity for us to work together, to help protect the sovereignty of Australia, and to protect the Free World. We're going to be able to do a lot of good for the world with this, Admiral," he said.

Owen

 

[Owen]

"Yes of course I understand, I likewise cannot sign off on it but the Department of Defence has given it to me to present to you. The Minister for Defence or Prime Minister will sign off on the agreement if it's all good with your government and will fax over the signed copy.

As for the stationing of forces, I've been advised that this can be a simple matter of negotiating time and place, but that a Status of Forces Agreement would fill in any legal issues with the stationing of forces in each other's countries. While we don't expect your government to be at the comfort of signing off on the ANZUS Treaty, even with a suspension of obligations between the United States and New Zealand, a SOFA may be a stepping stone towards that."

Odinson

 

[Odinson]

Secret​

"I will have this sent to the Secretary of the Navy immediately. In the meantime, I agree that a Status of Forces agreement would be appropriate. If you have one handy I can have that sent to Washington as well, otherwise I will pass this information along to the Secretary of the Navy as well and I am sure that the State Department will get right on it," he said. "I do agree that a status of forces agreement could be a stepping stone. Historically, these incremental steps along with direct military cooperation, are how the United States has built these kinds of relationships. I think that this is an excellent way to do it."

Owen