MINISTER FOR LONDON

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 285, 29 August 1941, Page 7

MINISTER FOR LONDON

Canberra Proposal CANBERRA, August 28. The Government announced today that it proposes to send a Minister to Britain to represent Australia. The Minister has yet to be decided upon. EARLIER. After three and a half hours’ vigorous debate today the Labour Party decided not to move an immediate noconfidence motion against the Menzies Government but to defer the vital vote till the Budget session, which opens on September 17. It is understood that nearly half the party tried to urge the leader, Mr. Curtin, to strike against the Government at once. Mr. Curtin, who became suddenly ill during the meeting but recovered after treatment, announced that Labour stood solidly behind Tuesday’s declaration that the Government should resign and make way for a Labour administration. The caucus strategy is reported to be: Why defeat the Government when it is already disintegrating? Meanwhile Labour should sit tight, avoid an immediate frontal attack and await developments. Events in Pacific. The Government party members have been asked not to leave Canberra tonight but to hold themselves in readiness for an urgent vital meeting which, it is believed, will review Mr. Menzies’ leadership. Labour has agreed to Parliament : .sing today for a recess of three weeks, during which the Opposition hopes that both the international and local political situations will be sufficiently clarified to enable Labour ro take office.

It was ascertained during the Labour meeting today that important steps are being taken by President Roosevelt, and it would be extremely unwise to intensify the political turmoil while the peace of the Pacific is in the balance.