San Francisco Treaty-Making and Its Implications for New Zealand

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The debate over the Japanese Peace treaty drew New Zealand into new relationships with the US and Australia – also challenging its traditional relationship with the United Kingdom. The Canberra Pact, signed in 1944, signalled acknowledgement by New Zealand and Australia of a mutual interest in the Pacific but they had different perceptions of the reality of a security threat there. While both countries favoured a harsh treaty with Japan after 1945, the Australian sense of the Japanese threat was greater. New Zealand regarded Europe as the most likely area of future conflict and was prepared to support the UK’s strategic interests there. As the US signalled a softer approach to a Japanese peace treaty, however, New Zealand joined Australia in seeking an American guarantee of their security. Australia was determined on a security treaty as the price for its support of a ‘soft’ Japanese peace treaty. New Zealand would have accepted a less formal guarantee but agreed to support the Australian line. They achie...