ANZUS and the Early Cold War

Following on from the previous chapter, this chapter explores further issues that divided these countries in the early Cold War period. It examines how the Japanese occupation—specifically US revisions to occupational policies in 1947—put Australia, New Zealand and the United States on uncommon ground. This analysis begins to reveal the way in which the US aimed to dominate discussions with Australia and New Zealand without giving any significant thought to opposing points of view in Canberra or Wellington. This chapter also begins to explore the impact of a continued post-war British presence in the Asia-Pacific through the ANZAM discussions. Similarly, it explores initial discussions Anglo-Australian plans about atomic bomb testing and the subsequent concerns about this project in Washington and Wellington.