Edwards had been appointed in the last days of the Fraser government but by the time he arrived in Canberra, Bob Hawke was prime minister. The new government was wary of damaging its relationship with Jakarta, but Edwards was insistent: an official account of the period -while obviously focused on Vietnam - could not ignore the Confrontation.
U-Edwards wayeqokwe ezinsukwini zokugcina zikahulumeni weFraser kodwa ngesikhathi efika eCanberra, uBob Hawke wayengundunankulu. Uhulumeni omusha wayengafuni ukulimaza ubudlelwano bakhe neJakarta, kepha u-Edwards wayegcizelela: i-akhawunti esemthethweni yalesi sikhathi - ngenkathi kusobala ukuthi ibigxile eVietnam - yayingayinaki iMpikiswano. 