- Jul 2, 2018
- 3,084
 |
PRIME MINISTER |
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION: TOP SECRET |
| 22 September 2005 |
| Dear President Sinclair, As we quickly approach a year since your resounding victory in the 2004 election and 6 months since my own decisive election victory, allow me to reach out to your office personally. That election victory was the most decisive Labor victory since 1943 on a two-party preferred basis. That was an election won by, who some regard as, the greatest Prime Minister of all time: John Curtin, in the midst of the Second World War. Mr. Curtin famously once said: "The Australian Government, therefore regards the Pacific struggle as primarily one in which the United States and Australia must have the fullest say in the direction of the Democracies' fighting plan. Without any inhibitions of any kind, I make it clear that Australia looks to America, free of any pangs as to our traditional links or kinship with the United Kingdom. We know the problems that the United Kingdom faces. We know the dangers of dispersal of strength, but we know too, that Australia can go and Britain can still hold on. We are, therefore, determined that Australia shall not go, and we shall exert all our energies towards the shaping of a plan, with the United States as its keystone, which will give to our country some confidence of being able to hold out until the tide of battle swings against the enemy." John Curtin was the first Australian Prime Minister to highlight the necessity of Australia to be more aligned with the United States rather than the United Kingdom. From that moment onwards, with the United States stationing forces in Australia and defending the Australian mainland, Mr. Curtin formed a close working relationship with General Douglas MacArthur and with the President, Franklin D. Roosevelt. It is my goal to likewise have this same close working relationship. Whilst the Japanese are long defeated, in fact now a crucial part of our wider alliance in the Pacific, we still face threats in the region which we have not seen in many decades. Whilst many regarded as the Chinese as the next great power, Thailand has, to the surprise of many, become that. Unfortunately with grand power seems to come grand delusions. Whilst they had an opportunity to use their power for good, they are increasingly playing both sides of trying to mend their relationships with the West while at the same time, denouncing us and making vague and empty threats towards us. I refer you to a recent article in The Global Collective, a newspaper owned by Socialist Causes which regards itself as independent but to which our intelligence agencies believe has considerable influence inside the Thai Government. It is entitled "It's the Time for the American Empire to Be Obliterated". It obviously rings alarm bells and we believe the author, Jon Ungphakorn, has considerable influence inside the Thai Government. I think as the days go on, it is becoming increasingly clear what the objectives of the Thai Government is. Mr. President, I'm afraid we are increasingly becoming caught off guard. We need to change course as a matter of urgency in regards to our cooperation in the region. We need United States forces in Australia and the region. We need to increase the size, firepower and capabilities of the Australian Defence Force. We need to send a clear message to Thailand that we will maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific and that unilaterally changing the region or the world order to one of socialist ideals will not be tolerated. Therefore, I am proposing that I conduct a state visit to the United States as soon as practically possible. This will be an opportunity for us to formally conclude that Australia and the United States are in a treaty-binding alliance, as well as being able to sign off on numerous other agreements which have been proposed but are currently stalled. I would also like the opportunity to address Congress and be able to have plentiful conversations with lawmakers there to increase awareness and influence of the Australia-United States relationship in order to supercharge it and have Congressional support should it be needed. I look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely, Julia Gillard. |
Parliament House, CANBERRA, ACT 2600 Telephone: (02) 6277 7700 |
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Odinson
