AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25812, 25 May 1949, Page 6

AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

CLOSER CO OPERATION FOR DEFENCE , SUGGESTION BY MR A. R. CUTLER With similar problems—long coastlines and inadequate populations— Australia and New’ Zealand must work together closely, even more closely than in the past, and oe prepared to accept the responsibility of making sure that no one endeavoured to take from them what was rightfully theirs, said Mr A. R. Cutler the Australian High Commissioner, to the Christchurch Tin Hat Club last evening. Preparedness for dexence was essential, but he thought the question of conscription a purely do •’estic one. Australia did not have peace-time conscription and he did not think it would be enforced. What was important was closer liaison and co-operation between the armed services of the two countries. In the Eastern countries there was a surge of nationalism, Mr Cutler said, and though not bad in itself, the nationalism had Tended to be influenced by factors which the democratic countries thought were putting it on the wrong track. It appeared that no one knew what form of government would eventuate in China, but it was clear that the Chinese would not be as complacent Towards New Zealand and Australia as they had been in the past. Japan, from all accounts, was beginning to feel again that probably it had been unlucky and that our weaknesses were still present and might be exploited in the future. “There are many ways in which we can prepare apart from conscription.” he continued, and mentioned the building of bases, the locket ranges in Australia, and service co-operation. Exchange of Officers The navies of the two countries had held joint exercises, and he thought these should be extended to the air forces. Between the armies there was liaison, but it should extend to active co-operation and he would like to see an exchange of officers. Integration would not be politically possible, and there might be a tendency for the larger service to absorb tb smaller, but officers of the two armies should be exchanged so that they could learn different methods and study the different terrains. “The next and wider move is to work closely with the other countries of the Commonwealth,” 1 Ir Cutler concluded. “But we must also look beyond the Commonwealth because there are countries whose support we need. The United States is the foremost, and we must work very closely with that country and others having the same principles as we hold.”