MOST VITAL HOUR

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20636, 16 August 1941, Page 9

MOST VITAL HOUR

AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE MR. MENZIES SPEAKS OUT UNITY. NOT POLITICS (Elec. Tel Copyright—United Press Assn.) ADELAIDE, Aug. 8. “Wo are still standing almost hushed at the most vital hour in the history of Australia,’’ the Prime Minister, Mr. R. G. Menzies, said in a speech to-day. He added that the next few weeks might find Australia drawn into, an attitude of defence it had never- expected. Mr. Menzies gave a grave warning of the “ominous turn’’ the war had taken because of Japan’s attitude. Bombs had not yet fallen in Australia, he said, but they might. Mr. Menzies, who was speaking at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon, declared that Australia would fight if necessary “with every ounce of her mqrql and physical courage.” “The war has taken an ominous turn in the last few weeks,” Mr. Menzies said. “Japan, which to us is the near north, and which was in the last war our ally, has in this war become the silent or inactive ally of the Axis Powers. We in Australia were disturbed when a little while ago we read of the Foreign Secretary of Japan visiting Berlin and Rome, and assor ciating himself with the campaign and cause of Germany and Italy. No Encirclement Policy “In spite of all these things we have held on to the notion of a Pacific peace. Nobody can say Japan fears attack by. us or encirclement by us. We have in,alL these matters-kept the peace, both in form and in spirit. In' spite of this Japan has, in the last few weeks, moved into Tndo-China with her armies. She has moved by arrangement with the Vichy Government, which means by arrangement with the Government of Berlin. “What do these southward movements by Japan portend? Does any one of you believe that it is a necessary gesture against encirclement by British countries, and the Dutch- East Indies? We in Australia, still pray- for peace in that quartgr, apd still offer no cause for offence, to our great neighbour in the north, “We are still standing almpst hushedat the most vital hour in the history of Australia. It is a vital hour because the next few weeks may well determine the future course of policy in this country. Nft Shaking of Fists “We may find this country drawn into an attitude of defence which it has never expected—which may call on us for every oupce of moral, and physical courage. I dp npt say. that- because- 1 think that shaking one’s fists at the other fellow is worth something. “Australia, has never shaken her fists. She has never had a. Government that did not have peace in the forefront of its policy, but Australia has never yet run away from danger, and Australia has never yet been prepared to place herself, in a position where she would bargain away her otyn. integrity and show, want of courage or capacity, to defend herself. “I am glad to say that this country is immeasurably better equipped to. defend herself than she was two years ago. Whatever- new dangers may come and new quarrels be forced uppn. us, there will be no fear in us. This country can and will pt all times defend herself.” After his reference to the Fax’. Eastern situation, Mr. Menzies said that the best foundation for. a vast national war effort was a real unity of national spirit, If bombs ever fell on Australia, the cry would go out, “Let us. put ourselves shoulder to shoulder.’’ By the mercy of God b.ojribs had npt fallen in this country, but they might. Right Centre “We are npt on the outer in. this war, \ye are right in. the centre of it,” Mr. Menzies said; “There is just- as much need for real unity of spirit in Australia as there is in Britain. ‘,‘Why should we devote so much of our time to stating whether Jones or Smith or Robinson would be- better than Menzies, Mcßride or McLeay.” It was, Mr, Menzies said, not a matter of a Parliamentary-majority, or even an electoral majority, but of all hands. These were days when all thoughtful men were troubled, hut he was as con-r fident of victory as ho was from the day thgt wpr began. His mind was troubled because he .sometimes wondered whether it could be said there were 7,000,000 people in Australia each of whom had said, to himself that winning the war was his own business, which nobody else could dp for him. Mr. Menzies said that he hadnoticed some symptoms in the last few months of a slackening feeling toward the war. There seemed to be rather an easy-going attitude since Germany attacked Russia- and began ,to he helii by Russia. There was a feeling that this was the beginning- of the end, that the whole thing might be over- by Christmas. Solemn Warning- Issued “I warn the people of Australia against any such comfortable optimism,” he said. “This, is a war- in which, until a few weeks ago, we had hardly, a taste of success, and our enemy, for almost two. years, had almost unbroken success, had over-run almost the whole of Europe, inflicted on our shipping such, grievous losses that the ordinary man in Australia is being affected, although he may not know it. "I regard every day that Russia holds Germany and, batters her as a good day, but for any British citizen in any British country - to slacken his effort 1 per cent because of what Russia or the United States could do,' would be suicidal. “We are still in the front line of this battle for the world. We must go on as if we had no friends or- allies at all.”