This is the first study of official relations between South Africa and Australia as
conducted through resident High Commissions or Embassies. It reaches the conclusion
that, though neither country loomed large on the other's scale of priorities, the relationship
was at the outset perceived to be of greater value to Australia than to South Africa.
It was initiated by the Australian government in 1945 as was the airlink which
connected the two countries in 1952. Then flown by propeller-driven aircraft, the air
route led to the expansion of Australian territory when the United Kingdom transferred
to Australia sovereignty over the Cocos (Keeling) Islands in the Indian Ocean, eight
hours flying time from Perth and an essential refuelling stop en route to Southern Afnca.
The first Australian High Commissioner, Sir George Knowles, arrived in South
Africa in August 1946. The Smuts government did not attach much value to the relationship.
Pleading shortage of staff, and to the embarrassment of the Australian government,
it had not reciprocated with its own appointment by the time of its fall in May
1948. On assuming office the following month the new Prime Minister, Dr Malan
responded positively to an Australian reminder about the lack of a South African High
Commissioner. Dr P.R. Viljoen was appointed to the position and arrived in Canberra
in June 1949. The relationship lacked substance and for relatively lengthy periods in
the 1950s the High Commissioner's post was left vacant on both sides.
The Australian government had proposed the establishment of relations on
grounds inter alia that members of the British Commonwealth should be informed
about each other's attitudes, policies and problems in the work of the United Nations.
Yet it was the United Nations, particularly its composition, which subjected the relationship
to its greatest strains.
In focusing on the role and functions of individual diplomats the study throws
light on what the profession or occupation of diplomacy encompassed at the time. Also
canvassed is the development of the South African and Australian Departments of
External Affairs from their beginnings to the early 1960s. / D. Litt et Phil. (History)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:unisa/oai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/16217 |
| Date | 11 1900 |
| Creators | Tothill, F. D. |
| Contributors | Brits, J.P. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 1 online resources (xvi, 531 pages) |
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