Alan Watt (diplomat) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Alan Watt CBE
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Watt (left) meeting German diplomats
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| Secretary of the Department of External Affairs | |
| In office 19 June 1950 – 24 January 1954 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Alan Stewart Watt
13 April 1901 Croydon, New South Wales |
| Died | 18 September 1988 (aged 87) Aranda, Australian Capital Territory |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Spouse |
Mildred Mary Wait
(m. 1927; died 1983) |
| Children | 3 sons, John Watt and a daughter |
| Alma mater | University of Sydney University of Oxford |
| Occupation | Public servant, diplomat |
Sir Alan Stewart Watt (1901–1988) was an important Australian diplomat. A diplomat is someone who represents their country when dealing with other nations. Sir Alan helped Australia build strong relationships around the world.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Alan Watt was born in Croydon, New South Wales on April 13, 1901. He went to Sydney Boys High School. Later, he studied at the University of Sydney and the University of Oxford in England. He was even a special student called a Rhodes Scholar in 1921. This scholarship allowed him to study at Oxford. While at Oxford, he was the captain of the tennis team and even played at the famous Wimbledon tournament in 1924.
A Career in Diplomacy
Sir Alan Watt started working for the Australian government in 1937. He joined the Department of External Affairs. This department is now called the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. It handles Australia's relationships with other countries.
During World War II, he worked in the United States. He was also one of Australia's representatives at the meeting that created the United Nations. The United Nations is an organization where countries work together for peace.
In 1947, Sir Alan became Australia's minister to the Soviet Union. The next year, he became Australia's first Ambassador in Moscow. An ambassador is the highest-ranking diplomat representing their country in another.
Key Achievements
Sir Alan returned to Australia in 1950. He became the Secretary of the Department of External Affairs. This was a very important job. He played a big part in creating two important agreements:
- The ANZUS treaty: This is a defense agreement between Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.
- The SEATO treaty: This was another agreement for defense in Southeast Asia.
After this, he continued his diplomatic career. He was the High Commissioner (another type of diplomat) to Singapore and Southeast Asia from 1954 to 1956. He then served as the Ambassador to Japan (1956–1960). His last ambassador role was in Germany (1960–1962).
Later Life and Writings
After leaving the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1962, Sir Alan continued to be involved in international affairs. He became a Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University. He also directed the Australian Institute of International Affairs from 1963 to 1969.
He wrote several books and articles about Australia's foreign policy. These books shared his experiences and ideas about how Australia dealt with other countries.
Awards and Honours
Sir Alan Watt received several important awards for his work:
- In June 1952, he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).
- In June 1954, he was given the title of Knight Bachelor. This meant he could be called "Sir Alan."
In 2011, a street in Canberra was named Alan Watt Crescent in his honour. This shows how much he contributed to Australia.
Works
- The changing margins of Australian foreign policy, 1964
- Australian defence policy 1951-63: major international aspects, 1964
- Vietnam, an Australian analysis, 1968
- Australian Diplomat - Memoirs of Sir Alan Watt, 1972
