Australian attitudes and policies towards Indonesia 1950 to 1965

Abstract

Australian attitudes and policies towards Indonesia have encompassed two main issues in the period 1950 to 1965. The West New Guinea issue and the confrontation issue posed different kinds of tests for Australian foreign policy as well as presenting a challenge to Australians to come to terms with their situation in the sub-region and, in particular, in their attitudes to Indonesia itself. The perceptions, attitudes and opinions of Australians on these issues are the central concern of the study. This concern is pursued by examining attitudes as they appear in the community generally, in the press, in the political parties and among those who made Australian policy. Description of attitudes is accompanied by attempts to explain their genesis and formation, their strength and durability. The study is also concerned with how these attitudes have affected policy making. An analysis of Australian policy on these issues is also undertaken in this work. The thesis has two parts. Part one describes and attempts to explain community, press and party attitudes together with the opinions of some groups and individuals. Part two focusses on the attitudes of Cabinet ministers and their advisers and describes the relationship between these attitudes and policy on the two issues. This part also discusses Australian aid to, and trade with Indonesia. The conclusion draws some of these disparate threads together. A judgement is made about common and uncommon factors in Australian attitudes; the process of influence and policy making is described. The relationship between attitudes and policy is examined. Finally, the conclusion says a little about the international significance of these issues and points to their long term effects in the Australian Indonesian relationship.