This book explains how and why, Australian governments shifted from
their historical relationship with Britain to the beginning of a
primary reliance on the United States between 1942 and 1957. It
shows that, while the Curtin and Chifley ALP governments sought to
maintain and strengthen Australia's links with Britain, the Menzies
administration took decisive steps towards this realignment. There
is broad acceptance that the end of British Australia only occurred
in the 1960s and that the initiative for change came from Britain
rather than Australia. This book rejects this consensus, which
fundamentally rests on the idea of Australia remaining part of a
British World until the UK attempts to join the European Community
in the 1960s. Instead, it demonstrates that critical steps ending
British Australia occurred in the 1950s and were initiated by
Australia. These Australian actions were especially pronounced in
the economic sphere, which has been largely overlooked in the
current consensus. Australia's understanding of its national
self-interest outweighed its sense of Britishness.
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