FIRST DECISIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 15, 19 January 1944, Page 5

FIRST DECISIONS

CANBERRA CONFERENCE

INTER-DOMINION PACT (Special P.A. Correspondent.) CANBERRA, January 18. ! Important decisions, described officially as a "new inter-Dominion pact," have already been reached by the conference of Australian and New Zealand Ministers. As a preliminary to co-opera-tion between the two Dominions, it has' been unanimously agreed that provision should be made for a fuller ex- ! change of information on the views of the respective Governments, and also on facts in possession of either Government which might bear on matters of common interest. A mutual assurance has been given that as far as possible each Government shall be aware of the mind of the other before giving expression to its views elsewhere, and shall seek to attain the maximum unity

in the presentation of the views of the two Governments. ! A continuous means of consultation will be established. ! The conference also agreed that the itwo Governments should act together iin matters of common. concern in the South and South-west Pacific, such as | control of territories, native welfare, 1 and communications between the two countries. While it is understood that no decisions have yet been taken on the actual machinery of the co-operation to be established between Australia and New Zealand, a suggestion by AusItralia of a permanent joint secretariat may be one means adopted. Another Australian suggestion has been the creation of joint standing committees of the two Governments on matters of permanent common interest. It is also suggested that the High Commissioners of the two countries should be given added facilities. After today's talks the Australian Prime Minister, Mr. Curtin, who is ! presiding, announced that the Commonwealth Government would welcome New Zealand representatives on the Australian Defence Council when the two Governments felt that a stage had been reached at which advantages could be gained by a joint examination of mutual problems. New Zealand representatives would also be welcomed on the Australian joint planning committee (comprising Government representatives and defence advisors). BEST DEFENCE MEANS. A fundamental concept of the Australian Government, said Mr. Curtin, was that the best defence of Australia and New Zealand was to be secured by a system of defence based on an island screen to the north of the two countries. The purpose of such a system would *be to preserve the strategical isolation of Australia and New Zealand, whose security was linked with that of the adjacent isa"ln'the hands of ourselves • or. a friendly "Power, and adequately defended, these islands are a bulwark to the defence of Australia and New Zealand and points for offensive action against the enemy," he said. In the possession of the enemy . they are springboards for offensive action against our mainlands." Mr. Curtin stated that realisation of this strategical concept involved such important considerations as first the location of bases; secondly, the strength of Dominion forces available for their defence; and, thirdly, assistance that would be forthcoming from other parts of the Empire and by international cooperation. Such forward bases must be located where their maintenance could be assured. They should not be capable of being by-passed,.neutralised, and ultimately occupied. The holding , of such an island screen meant sea power air power, and a garrison with installation facilities such as docks, aerodromes, and defences. Australia and New Zealand would require British co-operation in particular in the provision of sea power to ensure the command of the South-west Pacific sea-lanes and maintenance of overseas communications in this area. Without command of the seas and air the island defences could be readily subdued, and in such circumstances the mainlands of Australia and New Zealand would become wide open to attack Referring to the ability of the Australian and New Zealand land and air forces to provide both for their mamland defences and for bases in the island screen, Mr. Curtin said the Australian Government believed this could not be determined at present "because the post-war situation could not be foreseen. BRITISH CO-OPERATION NEEDED. Defence of the island screen would involve co-operation with Britain and with foreign Powers such as the Netherlands, Portugal, the United States, and France, all of which held possessions in the South-west Pacific area. Mr. Curtin urged Empire co-opera-tion as part of a system of collective security organised on a world and regional basis. More speedy progress was possible in Empire co-operation than in world collective security, though the two were complementary. It was therefore important that the nations of the British Commonwealth should reach an understanding as quickly as possible for their closer cooperation in Empire defence. As a first step towards securing this co-operation Mr. Curtin suggested that the problems of Australian and New Zealand defence should be studied by the defence staff of the two countries and considered by their respective Governments, and then at a further joint conference, .before being remitted to the Prime Ministers' confer-