AUSTRALIAN OFFERS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 32, 8 February 1927, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN OFFERS

GOVERNMENT DECLINES

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

„.;.,' SYDNEY, 4th February. The delicate, position of the Dominions iri regard to the sending of British troops to China has been the subject of more than one meeting of the Federal Cabinet. Ministers, including the Act-ing-Prime Minister (Dr. Earle Page), have made it quite clear that no request for troops or warships for China has been made.by the British Government, nor, they say, has the Australian Government offered any, As much resentment as support was aroused by a statement by the president of the New South Wales branch of the Returned Soldiers' League (Lieu-tenant-Colonel Hyman) a day after it was announced that Britain was sending the division of infantry, that Australian former soldiers were ready for service. But that Lieutenant-Colonel Hyman was supported is evidenced by the hundreds of letters which 1 Federal Ministers have received from men and youths of all ages volunteering for China. Ministers passed the letters to the Acting-Minister of Defence (Mr. Marr) to answer until the latter rebelled under the mass of correspondence which faced him.

Federal Ministers who were in Sydney this week awaiting Mr. Bruee's arrival were disinclined to discuss a cable message which pointed out that the statement was persistently cropping up in diplomatic and other circles that ono of the Cantonese demands would'be for absolute equality of their nationals throughout the world, including the righij to enter Australia Svith the same freedom as white foreigners. This, of course, would mean a threat against the White Australia policy, and here,'it is considered, this country is most concerned. The only definite statement on the point was that of the Minister of Trade and' Customs (Mr. Pratten), who said that the attitude of the Government had been laid down many times, and that • the Commonwealth through, its immigration laws had. the unalicnablo right to control its own citizenship. Meanwhile, all sections of the Labour movement have"; begun a campaign against the sending" of Australian forces. They have even gone so far to' threaten that if any attempt is made to do so, united action will bo taken to bring about a general, strike and to prevent any ship with troops or food, clothing, and munition supplies leaving Australia. Propaganda is also being spread by them for the "Hands Off China" policy. Discussing what Australia's policy should be in the case of war with China or any other country, .the "Sydney' Morning Herald" says: "It is the simple fact that, whether we like ,it or not, the moment Great Britain declares iv*, or has war declared upon her, Australia is at war, too. And being at war she would have to participate in it. That is part of the price wo have to pay for our Imperial partnership. True Australians glory in tho privilege of that partnership, and bo the price however high would pay it gladly. That would be the caso in whatever circumstances Britain was involved, but in this particular case we do most sincerely believe that Australians would come forward themselves, and expect their Government to come forward as well, in support of a cause, which, while it may.be principally Britain's, is yet Australia's too."