When it was first established, the department was linked administratively to the Prime Minister's Department, with the secretary to the Prime Minister's Department also acting as the secretary to the Department of External Affairs.[1] The minister of the department until 1932 was the prime minister of the day.[2] The department was first given its own permanent head in 1935, with William Hodgson appointed Secretary (all previous heads had served simultaneously as secretary of the Prime Minister's Department).[2]
Between 1940 and 1946 the department grew from an organisation with less than 20 people and two overseas posts to one with nearly 300 people, and representatives in 14 countries.[3]
In 1961, the department introduced a special $20,000-a-year language-training program for its junior diplomats. The program was still operating in 1967, with the aim to assist diplomats achieve proficiency in the local languages of the countries in which they were serving.[4]
In 1970, under the Gorton government, the department was abolished and replaced by the new Department of Foreign Affairs. The new department was new in name only and maintained its staff as well as responsibility for the same functions.[5][6] The old External Affairs title was sometimes causing confusion and the name change to Foreign Affairs, initiated by William McMahon, brought Australia into line with common international practice.[7]
Scopeedit
Information about the department's functions and/or government funding allocation could be found in the Administrative Arrangements Orders, the annual Portfolio Budget Statements and in the department's annual reports.
^ abcdefCA 18: Department of External Affairs [II], Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 9 December 2013
^ ab"The Department of the Foreign Affairs—A brief history", Year Book Australia, Australian Bureau of Statistics, 1 January 1988, from the original on 12 February 2014
^Turnbull, Clive (26 June 1946). "Curious Department of External Affairs". The Advertiser. Adelaide, South Australia. p. 8.
^"Envoys do learn languages". The Canberra Times. 2 February 1967. p. 20.
^(PDF), Canberra: National Archives of Australia, 6 November 1970, archived from the original (PDF) on 12 February 2014
^Gorton, John (6 November 1970). (Press release). Archived from the original on 11 April 2014.
^"Dept's new name". The Canberra Times. 7 November 1970. p. 1.
Further readingedit
Beaumont, Joan (2003), Ministers, Mandarins and Diplomats, Melbourne University Press, ISBN0-522-85047-2
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department, external, affairs, 1921, 1970, department, external, affairs, australian, government, department, that, existed, between, december, 1921, november, 1970, department, external, affairsdepartment, overviewformed21, december, 1921, preceding, departme. The Department of External Affairs was an Australian government department that existed between December 1921 and November 1970 Department of External AffairsDepartment overviewFormed21 December 1921 1 Preceding DepartmentPrime Minister s DepartmentDissolved6 November 1970 1 Superseding agencyDepartment of Foreign AffairsJurisdictionCommonwealth of AustraliaDepartment executivesPercy Deane Secretary 1921 1928 John G McLaren Secretary 1929 1933 John Henry Starling Secretary 1933 1935 William Hodgson Secretary 1935 1945 William Dunk Secretary 1945 1947 John Burton Secretary 1947 1950 Alan Watt Secretary 1950 1954 Arthur Tange Secretary 1954 1965 James Plimsoll Secretary 1965 1970 Keith WallerSecretary 1970 Contents 1 History 2 Scope 3 Structure 4 References 5 Further readingHistory editWhen it was first established the department was linked administratively to the Prime Minister s Department with the secretary to the Prime Minister s Department also acting as the secretary to the Department of External Affairs 1 The minister of the department until 1932 was the prime minister of the day 2 The department was first given its own permanent head in 1935 with William Hodgson appointed Secretary all previous heads had served simultaneously as secretary of the Prime Minister s Department 2 Between 1940 and 1946 the department grew from an organisation with less than 20 people and two overseas posts to one with nearly 300 people and representatives in 14 countries 3 In 1961 the department introduced a special 20 000 a year language training program for its junior diplomats The program was still operating in 1967 with the aim to assist diplomats achieve proficiency in the local languages of the countries in which they were serving 4 In 1970 under the Gorton government the department was abolished and replaced by the new Department of Foreign Affairs The new department was new in name only and maintained its staff as well as responsibility for the same functions 5 6 The old External Affairs title was sometimes causing confusion and the name change to Foreign Affairs initiated by William McMahon brought Australia into line with common international practice 7 Scope editInformation about the department s functions and or government funding allocation could be found in the Administrative Arrangements Orders the annual Portfolio Budget Statements and in the department s annual reports The department dealt with 1 Consuls and consular matters Foreign affairs Foreign intelligence Foreign press International conferences League of Nations including International Labour Organization and Permanent Court of International Justice TreatiesStructure editThe department was a Commonwealth Public Service department staffed by officials who were responsible to the Minister for External Affairs 1 The secretaries of the department were John Henry Starling 1933 35 William Hodgson 1935 45 William Dunk 1945 47 John Burton 1947 50 Alan Watt 1950 54 Arthur Tange 1954 65 James Plimsoll 1965 70 and finally Keith Waller 1970 1 References edit a b c d e f CA 18 Department of External Affairs II Central Office National Archives of Australia retrieved 9 December 2013 a b The Department of the Foreign Affairs A brief history Year Book Australia Australian Bureau of Statistics 1 January 1988 archived from the original on 12 February 2014 Turnbull Clive 26 June 1946 Curious Department of External Affairs The Advertiser Adelaide South Australia p 8 Envoys do learn languages The Canberra Times 2 February 1967 p 20 Commonwealth of Australia Administrative Arrangements Order PDF Canberra National Archives of Australia 6 November 1970 archived from the original PDF on 12 February 2014 Gorton John 6 November 1970 Department of Foreign Affairs Press release Archived from the original on 11 April 2014 Dept s new name The Canberra Times 7 November 1970 p 1 Further reading editBeaumont Joan 2003 Ministers Mandarins and Diplomats Melbourne University Press ISBN 0 522 85047 2 nbsp This Australian government related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Department of External Affairs 1921 1970 amp oldid 1160043424, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
