Frank Corner
Frank Henry Corner
Early life
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Born in
Corner joined the
Corner was posted first to Washington in 1948, as First Secretary, where he was involved in the negotiation and signature of the ANZUS Treaty and the Japanese Peace Settlement. In 1952 he was appointed Deputy High Commissioner in London, and was in London during the Suez crisis when New Zealand found itself torn in its loyalties between its new friend and protector (the US) and its "mother country", Britain. In 1958, Corner returned to New Zealand as Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairs.
Diplomatic career
In 1961, Corner became New Zealand's Ambassador to the United Nations, where he chaired the Trusteeship Council for two years, and served on the United Nations Security Council. Corner was the leading proponent of decolonisation of Pacific territories under New Zealand control. Corner provided the leading intellectual arguments in favour of decolonisation of Tokelau, the Cook Islands, Niue, and Western Samoa.
In 1967, Corner moved to Washington, as New Zealand's Ambassador to the United States, succeeding
Corner was considered to be very close to Prime Minister Norman Kirk in arguing and advocating for an independent New Zealand foreign policy. Throughout this period, Corner promoted closer political relations with China, an expansion of New Zealand interests in North and Southeast Asia, and a greater role for New Zealand in the South Pacific. The Third Labour Government elected at the end of 1972 was expected to recognise the PRC. Then, surprisingly the new Prime Minister, Norman Kirk, hesitated: After barely two weeks in office he suggested that it might be better to delay recognition until his second term. However he was talked out of this by the Foreign Ministry (now under Frank Corner) and the recognition formalities were completed just before Christmas.[1]
Later life and death
Corner retired from the post of Secretary of Foreign Affairs 1980. In retirement, he was active in arts administration, and spent six years on the Council of Victoria University. In 1985 he chaired the Defence Committee of Enquiry to examine public attitudes towards defence in the wake of the Fourth Labour Government's ban on visits by nuclear capable warships. He was an avid collector of modern art (especially New Zealand art) and was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.[2]
Corner died in the Wellington suburb of Karori in 2014.[2]
Honours and awards
In 1953, Corner was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal, and in 1977 he received the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal.[3] In the 1980 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George.[4] Corner was conferred an honorary Doctorate of Laws by Victoria University of Wellington in 2005.[5]
References
- ISBN 1-86940-378-9
- ^ The Dominion Post. p. 3.
- ISBN 0-908578-34-2.
- ^ "No. 48214". The London Gazette (3rd supplement). 14 June 1980. p. 39.
- ^ "Honorary graduates and Hunter fellowships". Victoria University of Wellington. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
- An eye, an ear and a voice: 50 years in New Zealand’s external relations edited by ISBN 0-477-03725-9
- Undiplomatic Dialogue: Letters between Carl Berendsen and Alister McIntosh 1943–1952 edited by Ian McGibbon (1993, Auckland University Press, Auckland NZ) ISBN 1-86940-095-X
- Unofficial Channels: Letters between Alister McIntosh and Foss Shanahan, George Laking and Frank Corner 1946–1966 edited by Ian McGibbon (1999, Victoria University Press, Wellington NZ) ISBN 0-86473-365-8
External links
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