AUSTRALIA-N.Z. PACT

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24193, 28 February 1944, Page 4

AUSTRALIA-N.Z. PACT

COMMENT ON MMKeI ARTICLE A-’ 'V I SIR KEITH MURDOCH’S -41 REPLY yM (Bee. 9.15 pm.) MELBOURNE, reb.il® "We remain unaware of any statements,’ none of which has bttjjjgg. particularised," said Sir Keith Mjfljpi doch, replying to comment by the NrtßK; Zealand Prime Minister (Mr FraserK and the Australian Minister of Externaill Affairs (Dr. H. V. Evatt) on his earlieral; criticism of the Australia-New Zealm:Sg Pact. “The issue is whether It is waitAustralia’s interest or not to bave -tM® United States permanently concenwlfe in one or -some of our islands to thtep north and east, an issue on which thftsg pact is being harshly judged America. . -^iSi “A tried and trusted ally on our ek-M posed north with inexhaustible miUtatf|i and air resources at her could surely be a safeguard in the yeaal| to come. It is an issue-which cannot M'|fe confused by current . Parliamentary.w; abuse, . . /yjM “The public may judge whether,.k-|| critical analysis of discussions on thilM vital matter in an article which is British and pro-American, but most all pro-Australian, can be ‘unpatriotic % or un-Australian.’" : *'s! The "Melbourne Herald” publishes a.-C| lengthy editor’s reply to Mr Fraser’s ea comment on the article by Sir Keltb f* Murdoch, who is the managing direc-.-v| tor of the paper. Among the pointS;£ reiterated by the editor were first*.; .r,that the conference should have been - 1 held without prior discussion with.'* Britain and America has caused con- i? .cern in Washington, and that the term! is of agreement been widely criticised & and censured in America; second, Sit Keith Murdoch's article argued it-was, undesirable to raise far-rcaching issues /; at such a time and particularly to do so f without consulting those great Powers which are deeply concerned; third, the ' article in no way rejected the principle of Australian and New Zealand leader- -i ship in their own interests but regretted that crude initiations had done % damage to goodwill in America and k elsewhere.

“NO SNUB TOILS.” FURTHER STATEMENT BY MR' FRASER (P.A.) WELLINGTON. February 27. “While I have no desire to comment on any interpretation of Australian policy which Sir Keith Murdoch or his newspaper may desire to put forward, I cannot let pass the statement that the Australian-New Zealand conference had caused anxiety in Washington," said the Prime Minister (the Rt, Hon. P. Fraser). “Such a statement is calculated to create as false an impression as the equally fantastic suggestion that Australia and New Zealand had. in any way, rebuffed the United States or had been snubbed by the United States. The issue is, moreover, not as Sir Keith Murdoch states it to be, but whether or not New Zealand and Australia are justified in coming together to discuss and define their common interests in questions of external policy now and in the post-war period, “The agreement sets forth the principles upon which the two governments agree to co-operate and, in particular, it stresses the desire of both to consult and to be consulted on all matters relating to their interests in the Pacific. It is the wish and expectation of both Australia and New Zealand that the policy of close friendship and mutual aid, which characterises their present relationship with the United States, should be strengthened still further as a result of 'such consultation.”