NOTE OF CRITICISM

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 22, 27 January 1942, Page 6

NOTE OF CRITICISM

AUSTRALIA'S DEMAND

BRITISH PRESS OPINIONS

(Rec. 2.20 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 26. A note of criticism of Australia's demand for action in the Pacific and representation in the Imperial War Cabinet has become apparent in the British Press. The "Manchester Guardian" said: "Australia is not making things easy for us." It added: "It is simple for Australia to make a demand for representation in the' War Cabinet, but none of the arguments used touches the point that the other Dominions are not of the same mind. Everyone in Britain is anxious that the Dominions shall enjoy the fullest confidence and have a real voice in everything touching their interests, but it is hardly reasonable to expect Australia to receive a status in the War Cabinet that the. other Dominions do not receive or do not want to receive. There must be other practicable means which can be adopted with infinitely less trouble and greater effect."

The "Daily Telegraph" says: "Two Australian Ministers, Mr. Beasley and Dr. Evatt, have quite strangely misrepresented the Pacific situation." It adds: "The establishment of Singapore as a naval base is due to British perception of its value to the Empire. For its defence the British Government has been sending, and will send, all that tonnage can be found to carry. This, not its willingness to dispatch munitions, is the limiting factor of aid to Singapore."