Editing Foreign relations of Australia (section)

===1930s: appeasement and rearmament===
The appointment of the [[Lyons government]] in 1932 marked a renewed interest in foreign policy, complemented by the establishment of foreign policy departments at universities and non-governmental advisory bodies like the [[Australian Institute of International Affairs]]. Prime Minister [[Joseph Lyons]] took a keen interest in foreign relations and exerted significant influence over the government's foreign policy.{{sfn|Bird|2008|p=23}} He authorised three "Pacific initiatives" as a sign of greater Australian interest in the Asia-Pacific. The first was the [[Australian Eastern Mission]] of 1934, led by deputy prime minister [[John Latham (judge)|John Latham]], which visited seven Asian countries and has been identified as a milestone in the early development of Australian foreign policy.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://apo.org.au/sites/default/files/resource-files/2008-08/apo-nid2694.pdf|title=Within China's Orbit?: China Through the Eyes of the Australian Parliament|first=Timothy|last=Kendall|year=2008|publisher=Department of Parliamentary Services, Parliament of Australia|isbn=0975201581|page=37}}</ref> The second initiative was the appointment in 1935 of Australian representatives in China, the Dutch East Indies, Japan, and United States – albeit below the rank of ambassador – where previously Australia's interests had been represented solely by British officials. The third was Lyons's "Pacific Pact" proposal, which envisioned a [[non-aggression pact]] between the major powers in the Pacific. Although he championed the pact at the [[1937 Imperial Conference]], discussions failed to progress.{{sfn|Bird|2008|p=25}} In Bird's opinion, "the Lyons years should thus be seen as a part of the evolution of Australian external policy from dependency towards autonomy […] it is perhaps the continuation and acceleration of the process of transition for which Lyons as Prime Minister ought to be best remembered".{{sfn|Bird|2008|p=336}}