Death of Sir Arthur Tange

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Media Release

Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer

10 May 2001

I was deeply saddened to hear today of the death of one of Australia's finest civil servants, Sir Arthur Tange.

Sir Arthur advised and guided successive Commonwealth Governments in the foreign affairs and defence fields from the 1940s through until the late-1970s, a period of massive change in the international environment. He was party to the development of policies on, amongst other things, ANZUS, SEATO, the launch of the Colombo Plan, the postwar relationship with Japan, the Malayan insurgency, the Vietnam war and relations with Indonesia during the turbulent Sukarno and early Suharto years. During this period he served as Secretary to both the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Defence and represented his country as High Commissioner in India.

Sir Arthur was a truly great Australian. He was an old family friend whom I first met many years ago. I kept in particular touch with him since I became Foreign Minister in 1996 - indeed I had lunch with him only a few weeks ago.

Sir Arthur is survived by his wife, Marjorie, his son Chris and his daughter Jenny. I extend my profound sympathy to them and their families in this sad and difficult time.

FA57