HUGE BRITISH BASE

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24868, 7 May 1946, Page 5

HUGE BRITISH BASE

Australia’s New Role INTERESTS IN PACIFIC

LONDON, May 5. “Australia in particular, and the British Commonwealth generally, have profited greatly from the Dominion Prime Ministers’ Conference,” said the Prime Minister of Australia (Mr J. B. Chifley) broadcasting before his departure for the United States. He added that, as a result of the conference, Britain would be able to speak with renewed strength in the world’s councils. Mr Chifley revealed that the conference had agreed that it would be Australia’s policy to develop her resources for the manufacture of munitions and ior the supply of raw material to make her as self-supporting as possible. This would be combined with a policy of assisting commercial enterprises making Australia the widest possible base for the British Commonwealth in the Pacific. “We believe that we can shoulder the responsibility of playing a major part in ensuring Australian and British interests in the Pacific.” said Mr Chifley The Australian Associated Press says that Mr Chifley leaves for America tomorrow generally satisfied with the result of the discussions in London, which are now virtually ended as far as Australia’s immediate interests are concerned.

Members oi the Australian delegation are satisfied that none of the general conclusions reached is likely to be altered after Mr Chifley’s departure

Although the Canadian Prime Minister (Mr W. L. Mackenzie King) decided last week that he would participate in the talks, he will not arrive until May 18. He is not likely to be interested in south-west Pacific affairs, and his views are already known to be in accord with the Prime Ministers’ decisions on their important matters discussed by the conference, for instance Imperial defence and the decentralisation of war industries.

Delegations believe that Mr Mackenzie King’s absence until the discussion’s later stages implies that the whole question of Commonwealth economic and military co-operation in the Pacific is likely to be decided among Britain, Australia, and New Zealand. They are not hopeful of getting much assistance from Canada. Mr Chifley and Mr Nash have expresseddecided views on European affairs, which are generally in agreement with those of the United Kingdom.