VISIT TO LONDON UNLIKELY

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23414, 22 August 1941, Page 7

VISIT TO LONDON UNLIKELY

PROPOSED TRIP BY]

MR MENZIES

LABOUR VOTES AGAINST SUGGESTION

(Received August 22, 12.15 a.m.)

(U.PA.) CANBERRA, August 21. It now seems unlikely that the Prima Minister of Australia (Mr R. G. Menzies) will make a second visit to London in his capacity as Prime Minister. The Federal Labour Party, at a twohour meeting to-day, rejected the proposal that Mr Menzies should go to London as Prime Minister, to represent Australia in the British War Cabinet. The party’s resolution emphasised that the gravity of the war situation made it essential that the Prime Minister should remain in the Commonwealth to organise a total wap effort. At the same time it urged that arrangements should be made with the British Government for Australian representation in London in order to ensure that the Australian point of view on war policy should be constantly before the British Cabinet. Only three members of the party dissented from the resolution.

Earlier, a joint meeting of the United Australia and United Country Parties overwhelmingly endorsed" the Cabinet’s proposal that the Prime Minister should go to London as Prime Minister.

Explaining why the Labour Party voted against the departure of Mr Menzies for London, the Leader of the Labour Party (Mr J. Curtin), in a dramatic speech in the House of Representatives, said the Prime Minister had so much vital work to do in Australia that the presentation of tha Commonwealth’s views to the British War Cabinet would have to be left to someone else.

“We are as badly off as we hava ever been since the collapse of Franca because the campaign which Germany is waging is being carried on with vast forces over a wide area,’’ said MS Curtin.

Australia’s defence was not practice able by Australia fighting alone. Ha declared, in a stirring appeal, that war preparations in Australia should ba raised to the highest point of effl* ciency.

“We ask that the British Govern* ment accept a representative from Australia—not the one the British Government would choose, but the one the Australian Government would select.” The Minister for the Navy (Mr W, M. Hughes), speaking with all his old* time vigour, defended Mr Menzies, Ha described him as the very man who should go to London, and added that if he could not be spared from Australia because of the gravity of the situation, then obviously he could not be spared from London, where Australia’s fate would be decided. Parlia* ment was discussing the safety of Aus* tralia and the question of Mr Menzies’s departure transcended party and all other considerations.

The Independent member, Mr Wilson, who holds the balance of power in the House of Representatives, in an interview to-day, said: “While r believe we should have a representative in London, I cannot see that it is essential that the Prime Minister should be our representative. lam not opposed to his going so long as it does not mean immunity for the Government during his absence.” Mr Wilson was invited to attend today’s joint meeting of the Government parties, but declined. A message from London reports that the “Daily Mail,” in a leading article says: “The peoples of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa are now as directly concerned for their own safety as the British. They are therefore, entitled to direct participation in the general direction of the war. The appointment of the Prime Minister of Australia (Mr R. G. Menzies). to tbe-Inner War Cabinet would generally be welcomed here as an addition to its strength.” After referring to the presence o£ the Prime Minister of New Zealand (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) and ,the Prime Minister of Canada (Mr W. L. Mackenzie King), and the imminent arrival of Lord Halifax, the British Ambassador in Washington; the “Daily Express” says: “Plainly big decisions Are to be taken on how and where the Empire’s power will strike, Mr Menzies is one of the ablest of the Empire statesmen, but he has to devote to the Australian Opposition attention which should be concentrated against the Axis.”

The broadcast address which Mr Menzies was to have given on the international situation last night was cancelled because the Federal Parliament was still in secret session, and required his presence.

WINTER CAMPAIGN PLANNED

German Preparations

In Africa

CEASELESS ATTACKS BY ROYAL AIR FORCE

LONDON, August 20. It is believed that the Germans art withdrawing some of their air units from the Mediterranean, but are making preparations for a winter campaign. These are apparent in their attempts to send convoys across tha Mediterranean from Italy to Libya. • The Royal Air Force is making repeated attacks in this area, and is also pounding the harbours at Tripoli and Benghazi. A Royal Air Force communique from the Middle East, reporting on operations, states; “A number of Macchi 220’s approached Malta yesterday, but turned back when engaged by Royal Air Force Hurricanes. The fighters chased the enemy aircraft and shot down three of them over the south coast of Sicily. “Heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force attacked the harbour at Tripoli during the night of August 18-19. Bursts were seen on and near the Spanish quay and a number of fire* were started. Marylands of the South African Air Force bombed and ma-chine-gunned an enemy camp and transport at Raselmilh yesterday. Bombs burst among tents and a number of vehicles were set on fire.

“Reconnaissance aircraft report that the 9000-ton enemy merchant vessel which was beached at Lampedusa after being damaged by aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm and the Royal Air Force on Monday, was still blazing yesterday. “Aircraft of the South African Air Force made a heavy attack on enemy positions in the Gondar area of Abyssinia on Monday. Direct hits were made on the fort at Debarech, where a number of fires were started, and on hangars and depots at Gondar. “From all these operations our aircraft returned safely."

British Ship Bombed.—A German aircraft recently violated neutral waters and attacked a British merchant ship, which was lying off the Portuguese coast waiting to enter. The crew were taken by surprise. The aircraft dropped a bomb near the ship and raked her with machine-gun fire. There were no casualties. —London, August 20.