1939 - 1946

1939 -

· Because New Zealand differed sharply with Great Britain over the failure to act against Mussolini's attack on Abyssinia in 1936, and the Pacific Defence Conference in Wellington questioned Britain's assurances that the Royal Navy could shield New Zealand from Japan, it is possible to date - from this period - an independent New Zealand security policy, in conception if not in substance.

1940 -

· Britain's admission that it could not guarantee protection of the dominions led to the New Zealand government to look increasingly to the United States as a security partner.

· March 5 - R.G. Casey presents credentials to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and the first Australian diplomatic mission to a foreign country was formally constituted.

· July 17 - Clarence C. Gauss presents credentials in Canberra as U.S. minister.

1941 -

· 20 March - Seven U.S. warships arrive in Sydney for good will visit. Six other American warships make similar visit to New Zealand.

· 7 December - Japanese air force attacks American naval base at Pearl Harbour in Hawaiian Islands. Within 48 hours Australia, New Zealand and U.S. declare war on Japan.

· 23 December - First American army units arrive in Australia. These men, diverted from their original destination in the Philippines, disembark in Brisbane.

1942 -

· 7 February - Australia and New Zealand naval forces establish single command to be exercised by U.S. Fleet commanders.

· 16 February - Walter Nash presents his credentials in Washington as New Zealand's first minister to U.S.. During the same month Patrick J. Hurley becomes the first American minister to New Zealand.

· 7-8 May - Battle of the Coral Sea.

· 3-6 June - Victory at Battle of Midway helps restore the balance of naval power in the Pacific and ends Allied 'defensive' period at sea.

· 2 July - Australian - U.S. troops begin long campaign to oust enemy from New Britain-New Guinea-New Ireland.

1943 -

· 1 March - Carl A. Berendsen becomes New Zealand's high commissioner to Australia.

· 8 April - Wellington reports 20 000 New Zealand troops on active duty in the Pacific area.

· 1 Nov - American marines land on Bougainville Island, Solomons. Thomas D'Alton, Deputy Premier, Tasmania, appointed Australia's first High Commissioner to New Zealand.

· 26 December - American troops, with Australian warships participating in covering naval force, establish beachhead near Cape Gloucester in western New Britain.

1944 -

· 21 January - ANZAC/Canberra Pact is formed. It provided that "within a framework of a general system of world security, a regional zone of defence comprising the South West and South Pacific areas shall be established and that this zone should be based on Australia and New Zealand".

· 15 February - third New Zealand Division occupies Nissan Island near Rabaul while Australian forces continue mopping up operations in New Guinea and American troops 'island hop' towards Philippines.

· 17 March - General MacArthur visits Canberra on the second anniversary of his arrival in Australia from the Philippines.

1945 -

· 8 May - World War II ends in Europe.

· 15 August - Japan sues for peace; fighting ceases in the Pacific.

1946 -

· Australian fundamental defence assessment paper stated "the basic ingredient of Australia's defence must be Empire Cooperation since the size of this country demands for its defence armed forces and an industrial potential quite beyond our present capacity" (p10 -ASTR)

· 15 February - Australian Army units land in Japan to join Allied occupation force