Calwell Accused Of “Brinkmanship”

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29746, 13 February 1962, Page 13

Calwell Accused Of “Brinkmanship”

(N Z.P.A.-Reuter— Copyright) MELBOURNE, February 12. Two of Australia’s metropolitan daily newspapers todaj’ accused the Federal Opposition Leader (Mr Arthur Calwell) of advocating a course of irresponsible “Brinkmanship” in the West New Guinea crisis.

A third newspaper, however, charged that the Federal Government was firmly committed to a policy of appeasing Indonesia—“the undisguised sacrifice of national honour on the altar of expediency.”

In its editorial comment on Government and Opposition reaction to Indonesian pressures to seize West New Guinea from the Dutch, the

’’Daily Telegraph” in Sydney said Mr Calwell’s latest statement was justly branded as “crazy and irresponsible” by the Prime Minister.

The “Daily Telegraph” said the only interpretation that could be put on Mr Calwell’s words was that Australia should resist by force of arms any Indonesian attempt to gain control of West New Guinea. “This leaves us with the cold hard fact that Australia, at best with Dutch aid, possibly quite alone, would be involved in a war with a nation of 90,000,000 people over a piece of territory to which we have no claim.” A Melbourne morning newspaper, the “Age" said Australia’s often reiterated hope was that any settlement reached would take into account the ultimate ideal of self-determination by the native people of West New Guinea.

“But if. by some miscal. culation, war should break out over New Guinea. Australia is equally frank tn her intention not to act except in concert with Britain and the United States. Mr

Calwell’s contention that ‘if we stand firm, our powerful friends among the democracies must rally to our cause’ invites an essay in Brinkmanship likely to topple us over the edge, alone and forlorn.”

The “Sydney Morning Herald” commented: “Is Australia to let her national Interests be decided by the great Powers? Is she to stay her hand for fear of offending the nations of Asia? Tsj both these questions the Prime Minister answers, ‘Yes’.”