Resolution 2758 - PRC Admission to UN

Joshua Grainger made this Official Information request to Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade did not have the information requested.

From: Joshua Grainger

Dear Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade,

In 1971, United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 was passed, taking the China seat from the Republic of China and giving it to the People's Republic of China. New Zealand voted against this resolution.

I would like to request under the Official Information Act:

* any information (including Cabinet Papers, briefings, or correspondence) related to Resolution 2758, and the reasons why New Zealand voted the way it did. I am particularly interested in any correspondence New Zealand received or sent from/to other countries, such as the United States, the ROC, PRC, or USSR.

I am aware such information would usually be withheld under the 'prejudice international relations of NZ' exemption to the OIA, but I would request given the amount of time that has passed that the Ministry consider releasing any information that it has.

Although it is not required I understand it is often helpful to spell out the reason for a request. I am a student of Political Science and Law at the University of Canterbury, and when I was researching the United Nations I came across this piece of history. I am very interested and curious to know the reasons behind New Zealand's vote on the issue, given the Cold War context, and the massive amount of lobbying that must have occurred around this Resolution, given a Permanent Security Council seat was at stake.

I am aware that given the time that has passed information relevant to my request maybe difficult to find. Feel free to contact me if there is anyway I can be of assistance in clarifying my request.

Yours faithfully,

Joshua Grainger

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Alex Harris left an annotation ()

It may very well be in the national Archives. have you tried searching Archway to find out?

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Joshua Grainger left an annotation ()

I tried using Archway after submitting my OIA, realizing that something may very well be there. I found it hard to use, so I couldn't find anything that would be obviously helpful (except for possibly the papers of Keith Holyoake), but even if there was it is likely that they'd be in the Wellington office, which I'd have to fly up to view.

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Joshua Grainger left an annotation ()

Okay, wow, I took another look and think I've found what I was looking for, under the title of "China: Political Affairs - Recognition of Communist China" from MFAT. Some of them require vetting from MFAT before accessing however, and they're still in Wellington so I'd have to fly up to view them.

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Alex Harris left an annotation ()

The problem is that if its in the National Archives, its not available under the OIA.

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From: INWOOD, Shirley (NAD)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade


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[UNCLASSIFIED]

Hello Joshua

I have been asked to send you this reply to your request for information.

Shirley Inwood |DMSO - NAD and SEA Divisions| Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
DDI: (04) 439 8422

"The information contained in this email message is intended only for the addressee and is not necessarily the official view or communication of the Ministry. If you are not the intended recipient you must not use, disclose, copy or distribute this message or the information in it. If you have received this message in error, please email or telephone the sender immediately."

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