DEFENCE MEASURES
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
CANBERRA, March 23. The defence of Australia involved co-operation with Foreign Powers and American co-operation was of paramount importance, said the Prime Minister (Mr Curtin), in the House of Representatives. The security of Australia and New Zealand was best achieved by a system of defence, based on the island screen to the north of these Dominions, said Mr Curtin. The holding of this island screen meant sea’ power, air power, and. garrisons, with installations and facilities such as docks and aerodromes. He said: “The local defence of the mainlands of Australia and New Zealand entails similar demands. The crux of the situation is the capacity of Australia and New Zealand to provide for the defence ol the screen and, at the same time, for the local defence of their territories. In fact, it is impracticable for Australia and New Zealand to defend the area unaided.”
Regarding sea power, the Prime Minister said it was necessary in order to combat a potential enemy such as Japan to have a base in a suitable strategical position, and a Fleet which could ensure command of the sea on the South-west Pacific area, apart from maintenance of overseas communications to this area. “Australia and New Zealand cannot provide a Fleet and equip a base like Singapore as a bastion for the defence of the British interests in the Pacific,” he said. “Co-operation with Britain is therefore essential. The defence of the screen also involves co-operation with foreign Powers such as the Netherlands, Portugal, the United States, and France. From Australia’s war experience, it will he apparent that American co-operation is of paramount importance.” The security of Australia, or any other part of the British Commonwealth, in future would rest on three safeguards, said Mr Curtin,—firstly, a system of collective .security, organised on a world and regional basis; secondly, a degree of Empire co-operation, which could be established; and, thirdly, a national defence command, the policy for which was purely the responsibility of the Governments concerned,
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Greymouth Evening Star, 24 March 1945, Page 5
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337DEFENCE MEASURES Greymouth Evening Star, 24 March 1945, Page 5
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