USE OF SECRET FUND

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23444, 26 September 1941, Page 7

USE OF SECRET FUND

MOTION OF CENSURE DEFEATED INDEPENDENTS VOTE WITH GOVERNMENT (Received September 26, 12.45 a.m.) CANBERRA. September 25. Labour’s censure motion against the Federal Government for the manner in which it used the secret fund to combat subversive activities was defeated in the House of Representatives at 3.13 a.m. to-day by 32 votes to 31. Both Independents, Mr Coles and Mr Wilson, voted with the Government. After declaring this afternoon that a Royal Commission would not be granted to inquire into the “secret fund,” the Prime Minister (Mr A. W. Fadden) an hour later changed his mind and announced that a Royal Commission would be set up. _ , Mr Fadden was faced with an insistent demand by the miners’ leaders for a full inquiry into yesterday’s allegations. They threatened a complete hold 'up of the coal industry in the event of a refusal. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr J, Curtin) backed up their request and angry- clashes occurred in Parliament. “I emphatically repudiate the secret fund allegations in their entirety,' said Mr C. H. Nelson, president of the Australian Coalminers’ Federation, in a statement. “A very long and mten- - sive vendetta has been earned out in the Labour movement against me for many ytears. lam demanding, in conjunction with my colleagues, an immediate Royal Commission to have this matter thoroughly investigated, and it ; is my intention to fight with everything I possess to vindicate my honour. I want to say, in regard to the alleged that if any such money was paid, it never received by myself in any sh(qre or form.” Mr Fadden said in the House yesterday that payments from the secret fond amounting to £3OO were made to Mr Nelson early in March for “-special expenditure in connexion. with the coal industry.” to be prepared ii delay and congestion were to be avoided and no on® country prejudiced for lack of adequate facilities. * M t Eden added that the British Ministry of War Transport had already been considering what shipping might be' available. There Would be little difficulty in most cases about the exist-, erice of the supplies required. Stock® of certain essential foodstuffs and basic materials were even now accumulating in those parts of the world not directly ravaged by the war. Hie demand from the stricken countries would be so great that it Would tax the resources of the world to organise sufficient supplies for relief. Mr Eden continued: “It is proposed that we should start , with first things first, namely, an agreed declaration on shipping policy, the establishment of a bureau; to survey requirements, and an inter-AUied committee to deal with the proposals of the bureau. .“It is obvious that the satisfaction of the post-war needs, of Europe will also depend on the co-operation of the ■ great primary producing countries overseas. Therefore, we have already approached the governments of the / Dominions and the United States and informed them of our immediate plans and hopes. Statement by United States; “I am sure that all present will share my great satisfaction at the encouragement we have already received from the United States Government, which has authorised me to make the following statement on its behalf:—. '“The Government of the United States has been advised of the purpose of this meeting and acquainted with the terms of the draft resolution. It has required the United Kingdom Government to state its opinion that the undertaking is of great prospective usefulness. It understands that the present discussions will be of an exploratory nature, and it states that it stands ready at the appropriate time to consider in what respects it can cooperate in accomplishing the ends In view. It has pointed out that any plans that may be worked out are of great potential interest to the United States for various reasons. They might affect the current American defence effort. According to their substance, form and method, they might also affect commercial policies and relationships and even broader post-war arrangements. For these reasons it makes a request that it be kept fully advised regarding the course of these exploratory discussions and consulted regarding any plans which might emanate from them.’ ” Mr Eden said he had been very happy to give the United States Ambassador (Mr J. G. Winant) such an assurance. He continued: “The statement of the - United States Government shows it will not be unwilling at the right time to join in framing plans for the supply of Europe’s needs on a basis of co-operation. -It is clear that some joint marketing arrangements will be required from the point of view of producers and consumers. Wasteful and costly competition in acquiring supplies and the violent price movements which would result should be avoided and nothing must be allowed to prevent a fair allocation of supplies reaching the countries which may most need them but be least able to compete for them. “We do not propose to play a grim game of ‘beggar my neighbour.’ Pur declared purpose is to ensure that with freedom there will come succour at the earliest possible moment to the distressed people of Europe. No one can know when this war will end, and we should make our preparations in good time. The measures which we take now, measures which we make known that we have taken, may bring some encouragement to millions in Europe whose present sufferings we 'cannot prevent, and give them strength of heart to endure and, where they can, to resist.”