AUSTRALIAN POLICY

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27369, 7 June 1954, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN POLICY

Full Backing For Allies .

SYDNEY, June 5. The Federal Cabinet had decided to commit Australia fully in standing by her allies to halt the communist drive in South-east Asia, says the Canberra correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph.” If the Western countries enter the war in Indo-China, Australia is prepared to send troops there to help

The correspondent said that Federal Ministers regard the Asia crisis so seriously that they asked the Minister of External Affairs (Mr R. G. Casey) to hurry back to the Geneva conference. Mr Casey hurriedly completed his travel arrangements last night to leave Sydney by air. Briefly the points of Australian policy are reported to be:— To assist America, Britain. New ' Zealand, France, and other Allies in negotiating for an early cease fire in Indo-China. Fully to support these negotiations but to refuse to back down to the communists “right along the line.” To make it clear that Australia will take part in armed intervention in Indo-China in the last resort. To take every action necessary to speed negotiations for a new collective security pact against communism in South-east Asia. To make every effort required to keep the Western nations solidly united in their determination to halt Communist imperialism. To leave no doubt in the minds of the Communists that the Allies are not merely “trying a game of bluff.” To join with America, particularly in assuring France that if she fights on in Indo-China she will not be left to fight alone. i To make doubly clear diplomatically 1 Ehat Australia regards the threat in t Indo-China and other parts of the Far 1 East as a potential threat to Australia ] herself.