AUSTRALIA'S POLICY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 78, 29 September 1938, Page 22

AUSTRALIA'S POLICY

MR. LYONS'S STATEMENT ITS MEANING CANVASSED ATTITUDE OF LABOUR (From MThe Post's" Representative.) SYDNEY, September 20. Other political leaders are seeking an explanation from the b Prime Minister, Mr. LyOns, whether his cabled assurance to Great Britain last week meant unqualified support in the event of war. Mr. Lyons's declaration caused concern to Labour leaders. They declared that they would be more as- j sured if an announcement was made that there would be no attempt to introduce conscription. The vexed problem whether the Labour movement should endorse the policy of' isolation or collective security will be determined at coming conferences. Mr. Lyons's statement was interpreted in the most authoritative circles to mean that tbe Commonwealth Government has assured the British Government of support in any action it considered necessary in dealing with the present crisis. j Mr. Lyons said: "The British Cabinet has been informed that the Commonwealth Government strongly supports the policy of the United Kingdom . as declared in Mr. Chamberlain's speech of March 24, and as reaffirmed in Sir John Simon's speech at Lanark on August 27. The specific point in these speeches to which Mr. Lyons's reference is taken to apply is the indication in both speeches that Britain might not i be .able to remain aloof if a conflict occurred.

| "The British Government," Mr. Lyons said, "has been informed by the Commonwealth Government that it is in complete accord with the measures that Britain is pursuing to secure a settlement bf the Sudeten question. The British Government at the moment is exerting strenuous and constant efforts for peace. The acute tension and military preparations in Europe indicate the serious nature of tbe present situation and how incumbent it is on all concerned to exercise their best efforts for the attainment of a peaceful solution."

. LABOUR PARTY'S POSITION. Federal Labour's attitude towards the international crisis will be determined this" week. Its leader, Mr.; Curtin, has been reserved in his comment, but said he interpreted tbe Prime Minister's statement to mean that the Commonwealth was supporting Britain's efforts to preserve peace, "Until Mr. Lyons contradicts that impression, I do not think the efforts of the British Government can be helped by any other statement which might be made in Australia," Mr. Curtin said. "I agree entirely with Mr. Chamberlain's definition of the position in March, when he refused to allow himself to be committed in advance of events, or to have his discretion affected by premature declarations."

Two State Labour leaders have been far more definite. '

The Premier of Queensland, Mr. W. Forgan Smith, said: "While I am opr posed to all form of dictatorship, I do not believe that any realignment of portions of Europe, parcelled out empirically after the waT, is worth the shedding of a single drop of Australian blood. At all times force never settled any question." MR. LANG WOULD STAND CLEAR. The leader of the State Labour Party in New South Wales, Mr. Lang said that Mr. Lyons's declaration was a direct defiance of the mandate which his Government had received at the Federal elections, and was opposed to the present will of the great majority of the people, of Australia. , "Our people are determined that Australia must be kept out of European warp at all costs, and their determination must be made articulate," said Mr. Lang. "The Labour Party must now perform its traditional function of giving leadership to the Australian people in a time of crisis. The Labour Party must, prepare itself to organise the Australian people against participation in a European war. That, in itself, is not sufficient We must demand that Australia be placed in a position of adequate internal defence. It is known that the central point of Australian military strategy is that, while she may not be invaded, she could become subject to raids and landings from a hpstile Power. If Aus-1 tralia is embroiled in a Continental war, it will be inviting such an attack, and, at the same time, dissipating its forces of resistance, threatening European war should be a spur to Australia to avoid foreign commitment, and concentrate all her resources upon internal defence." " ■ X '