U.S. SIGNALS BASE

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30154, 11 June 1963, Page 6

U.S. SIGNALS BASE

Labour Wants More Control (N.Z Press Assn.—Copyright) SYDNEY, June 10

The Labour leader, Mr A A. Calwell, is understood to have made it clear that a Labour Government would not repudiate the recentlysigned agreement for an American naval signals bast on Australian soil, but Would renegotiate it “for greatei political -control of the station.” Less than an hour aftei seeing the United States Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Mr W. A Harriman), Mr Calwell told the annual meeting of the Labour Party he thought tha' a Labour Government could renegotiate the treaty to gain “needed safeguards ’’

“We believe that the main reason the present agreement does, not contain them is that the supine Menzies Government never sought them.” he said.

“The north-west happens to be the most vulnerable part of the entire continent. There are no military installations in the north-west and no ready means of transporting men or equipment there. “The Government’s so-called new and revised plan theoretically covering the next seven years, makes no new provisions for any additional defence of . the area.

“Realising its vulnerability and their own neglect, the Government members have not hesitated to suggest falsely, that the proposed American installation at North-west Cape makes a direct contribution to the defence of the area and thus to the direct defence of Australia as a whole.” he said. In his speech. Mr Calwell said that Australia was less prepared for defence emerg ency than it was in 1912 The Government seemed to think that Australia could be defended by “a series of press releases and paper programmes.” Before leaving for America Mr Harriman said he and Mr Calwell talked alone abou’ the base. “Mr Calwell assured me that a Labour Government would have no intention of repudiating the agreement." he said.