PLANNING TO MEET EMERGENCY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20631, 12 August 1941, Page 5

PLANNING TO MEET EMERGENCY

CANBERRA CABINET POSSIBLE MENACE FAR EAST POSITION ALL-DAY MEETING lElec. Tel Copyright—United Press Assn.) (ReccL Aug. 12, noon.) MELBOURNE, Aug. 11. Grave decisions faced a full Australian Cabinet meeting in Melbourne to-day. Army officials worked over the week-end organising against any emergency that would make a sudden demand upon Australia’s man-power as a result of further aggressive moves in the near north. Personal cablegrams received by the Prime Minister, Mr. R. G. Menzies, in the past 24 hours were the chief reason for his decision to summon the Cabinet. Prior to entering the meeting, Mr. Menzies stressed the grave dangers facing the people and expresse.d the hope that there would be no unfounded anxieties about the Australian defence position. He directed attention to the existence of large, well-trained home defence forces, including thousands of A.I.F. troops still in the country, while the air defence, munitions production, and potential, munitions output were, he added, immeasurably greater than two years ago. Army, navy and air chiefs attended the meeting of the Federal Cabinet, for which Mr. Menzies cancelled his tour of Western Australia. The Cabinet met immediately on the arrival of Mr. Menzies from Adelaide. After an all-day meeting, Mr. Menzies said: ‘‘We devoted the whole of our discussion to the Far Eastern position. Any policies arrived at, of course, are reached in consultation between Britain and the other Dominions. Consequently we have been concerned to clear our own minds and put ourselves in a position to offer views on this crucial position to the other Dominions. High Degree ol' Tension “There is no doubt that Japan’s occupation of Indo-China and subsequent moves in the direction of Thailand have created a very high degree of tension. I say again that Australia is no party to any policy of encirclement and never has been. There is no such policy in any British country. “We are concerned with the security of the British Empire and the things it stands for. One of the points in that security is Singapore. When one remembers that, one sees the full significance of the decision that will have to be taken. They are decisions in which not only Australia is involved, but also the United States, the Netherlands East Indies, and other countries similarly placed in the world. The problems are such that they call for the calmest and clearest judgment.” It is believed that the Cabinet is formulating an Australian viewpoint on the Far Eastern situation for communication to other countries in the Empire and outside it which are likely to be affected by further Japanese movements. It is understood that the decisions of the Cabinet will help in evolving a united Empire policy on questions arising from the Pacific developments. Some of the decisions will have. to be sent to other Governments immediately. The full Cabinet meeting is being continued to-morrow, and there will probably be meetings of the War Cabinet on Wednesday and of the advisory War Council on Thursday. It is authoritatively learned that the Cabinet will consider whether Australia should seek direct representation in the British War Cabinet. The subject was discussed broadly at tonight’s sitting, but no decision was reached.