WAR CABINET

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 24, 29 January 1942, Page 8

WAR CABINET

AUSTRALIA'S VIEW

OPINIONS DIFFER

{By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.)

(Rec. 2 p.m.) SYDNEY, This Day.

A section of the Federal Cabinet is dissatisfied with the statement on an Imperial War Cabinet made by Mr. Churchill, says the "Daily Telegraph."

The Deputy Prime Minister (Mr. Forde) said in Melbourne that vital points were still outstanding:. There were essential aspects in which the Government was awaiting advice from Mr. Churchill. His statement to the House of Commons did not deal with the matters awaiting settlement.

Ministers in Melbourne said that Mr. Churchill had been careful to say that Australia's voice would be "heard." That was not what Australia wanted. Australia wanted not only a voice, but a vote and adequate executive power, on the Imperial War Cabinet.

Mr. Churchill made no mention of this being granted.

Ministers said that for Australia to have only a voice on the British Cabinet would be little improvement on the existing arrangement. Either the Australian demand had been completely misunderstood or the British Government was placing its own meaning on it as a convenient way out of a delicate situation. Mr. Churchill also failed to say whether the Pacific War Council was to have full executive powers. The Government considers that the Council must have full power to determine questions of strategy and policy in the Pacific if it is to be of any use.

Mr. Curtin, interviewed in Perth, gave no indication that he is dissatisfied with Mr. Churchill's references to Australia's position. He said he regarded Mr. Churchill's speech as being in accord with the general purpose for which the whole British Commonwealth of Nations unitedly stood.