Australian Forces May Soon Leave For Malaya

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27613, 21 March 1955, Page 11

Australian Forces May Soon Leave For Malaya

(JfJS. Press Association—Copyright) , (Rec. 9 p.m.) CANBERRA, March 20. The early dispatch of Australian land and air forces to South-east Asia is considered certain to follow a special Federal Cabinet meeting on March 30. The Prime Minister (Mr Menzies) has called the meeting for urgent discussions on his recent top-level talks with British and American leaders. The Canberra correspondent of the Sydney “Sun-Herald” says that Australia is believed to have made definite military commitments towards the defence of South-east Asia as a result of these talks. It is believed that Mr Menzies has called a meeting on March 30 to get early Cabinet approval so that the Government’s programme will be ready to go before Parliament immediately it reassembles next month.

Australia’s commitments in Southeast Asia are believed to be at least one Army battalion and one Royal Australian Air Force wing. Both will be stationed in Malaya. The Army battalion is expected to be the 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. The first company of the battalion began jungle warfare training at Canungra, near Brisbane, this week. The Army has stepped up its jungle training to complete the training of the whole battaUon by the end of August. The troops are expected to leave for Malaya almost immediately they have finished training. Federal Ministers in Canberra this week said that any contingent sent to Malaya would combine with British forces there in actively repelling Communist terrorists. The correspondent says it is understood that Australian. British and New Zealand forces in Malaya will form the front line of the allied defence of Asia under the South-east Asia Treaty Organisation. It is not yet known whether Mr Menzies has agreed in principle to Australian forces -fighting in countries outside Malaya if the need arises. But this is considered very likely because of Australia’s role in the treaty organisation. If this is agreed to it will mean that Australian forces will play a major part in the early stages of any onslaught by Communist forces in Southeast Asia. Opposition From Labour Party Political observers predict that the Government should obtain Parliament’s approval for its plan, although the Labour Party’s official foreign policy, announced on Friday, opposed sending troops to Malaya. The Labour Party is at present badly split, and the issue on sending troops to Malaya will not help party unify. The Right wing of the party favours sending troops overseas as an urgent move to stem the spread of communism. The Federal conference said the party was satisfied the use of Australian armed forces in Malaya would gravely injure Australian relations with Asian countries. Their use would in no way contribute to the prevention of aggression.