AUSTRALIA’S CALL

Evening Star, Issue 24103, 26 January 1942, Page 5

AUSTRALIA’S CALL

NEED FOR ASSISTANCE MESSAGES TO BRITAIN AND U.B.A. MELBOURNE, January 24. Emphatic cable messages emphasising the urgent need for assistance were sent to President Roosevelt and Mr Churchill at the conclusion of an emergency meeting of Australia’s War Cabinet late last night. Statements to which the utmost significance can be attached were issued by the Minister of External Affairs, Dr H. V. Evatt, and the Minister of Supply, Mr J. A. Beasley, emphasising the need for Pacific reinforcements. Dr Kvntfc said that Malaya was not a side show, but a primary and vital struggle between tho democracies and all tliree Axis Powers, and the demand for maximum Allied defence in Malaya and tho Dutch Indies was based on a broad and realistic view of the war. Mr Beasley said the fight in the Pacific was a fight for continuance of the British Empire, and the peo ; ple of Britain must look the Empire squarely in the face. The British Government was deluding itself if it failed to see that tho Battle of tho Pacific was the Battle of the Atlantic, too. “WILL NEVER SURRENDER.” Taken in conjunction with the plea by tho Minister of the Army, Mr F. M. Forde, in a national broadcast for Allied reinforcements in Malaya, the statements of the two Ministers can be regarded as a guide to the tone of the communications which were sent to the British Government and the Australian Minister in Washington, Mr R. G. Casey, for transmission to President Roosevelt. It is stated on, the highest authority that the gravity of events in the Pacific and the urgency of the need for reinforcements of all types could not be over-emphasised. Mr Forde said the next enemy stroke might well be an attempt over the mainland of Australia itself. “I am certain that the enemy will make an attack, perhaps not at once, but make it he will.” he said. “Wo are ready and we will never surrender. We cannot delude ourselves about tho future. We will have to fight as Australians have never fought before for our very existence.” j\lr Curtin, who was interviewed at Kalgoorlie, said Australia will in no circumstances surrender to Japan. The only Australian who w6uld co-operate with Japan would be a dead Australian. He spurned General Tojo’s offer to Australia to co-operate with Japan and so avoid destruction. “ There can be no thought of co-operation with aggression,” said Mr Curtin. Mr Curtin revealed that Australia had demanded the immediate-establish-ment of an Imperial War Cabinet and a Pacific War Council, with full Australian representation on both. The demands were made in an urgent cable message to Mr Churchill. “Australia’s position in the higher strategic direction of war is clear and decisive,” said Mr Curtin. “ Our air, naval, and military forces have been engaged with the enemy in distant theatres, and have comported themselves with great gallantry and distinction. What they have done and are doing is evidence that Australia’s fighting calibre, tested on many a field, should be available also in the highest councils for the strategic disposition of the total forces, to which Australia has been so considerable a contributor. “ The Pacific struggle obviously calls for proper machinery for tho mobilisation of the forces resisting the enemy. I know the dangers facing us have increased! as the demands upon us have .become greater, and that the obligations devolving upon our people are now immeasurably greater. I also know that because of these needs it has now become imperative that 9,000,000 British subjects in the Pacific should have a direct say in tho direction of the total resistance which the democracies must invoke.” “FIGHT TO A FINISH” AUSTRALIAN PREMIER'S DECLARATION (Rec. 1.15 p.m.) MELBOURNE, Jan. 23. “ Australia will seek no quarter from Japan, and alone or with the help of others will fight to a finish,” skid the Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Forde). Australia would try to face the test in a way which would leave it without regrets, he added. Whatever the outcome, its objective would be to outlast whatever the enemy could do. “ It may happen,” Mr Forde said, “ that the Japanese will secure a temporary foothold on tiie Australian mainland. Everyone inside and outside Australia should realise this is not impossible. Should it happen, it will not bo a mortal blow at Australia, though the consequences may be serious. We shall make the Japanese pay bitterly for whatever they attempt.” CLAIMS SUPPORTED / MAIN ISSUE FOR DEBATE (Rec. 12.27 p.m.) LONDON, January 25. When the House of Commons meets on Tuesday many members are expected to give strong support to the claims of Australia for a greater say in the conduct of the war. The ‘ Sunday Times ’ diplomatic correspondent says it is probable that Mr Churchill will invite Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa to enter an Imperial War Cabinet. However, Mr Curtin’s request for the formation of a Pacific War Council on which all the countries concerned with the Pacific struggle should be represented, involves a different set of problems—for instance, the relationship of such body to the Allied Cominan-der-in-Chief, General Wavell. The correspondent adds that it is doubtful whether other Governments affected desire such a council.

The British Press is leading public opinion in support of Australia’s case. Newspapers and weeklies, with few exceptions, express their realisation of the danger not only to Australia and New Zealand, but also to the Empire. The War Cabinet will be one of the main issues in the House of Commons war debate Mr Curtin’s “ forthright demand,” as some papers call it, is re-

garded as strengthening the critics’ hands. In Washington Mr Case.y handed President Roosevelt important suggestions from Mr Curtin regarding the defence of Australia. Mr Casey said after the interview that he felt reassured to the extent that the President appreciated the situation and had a wide knowledge of the position. BRITAIN’S REPLY LONDON, Jan. 26. Mr Winston Churchill has told the Australian Government, in reply to Australia’s request for additional war supplies and for an Imperial War Cabinet, that the matters will have the attention of the British Government.