PACIFIC PEACE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20625, 28 November 1941, Page 5

PACIFIC PEACE

AUSTRALIA’S AIM

NO LOSS OF PRINCIPLES DR. EVATT OUTSPOKEN (Reed. Nov. 28, 11 a.m.) CANBERRA, Nov. 28. In the course of a speech on the international situation, the Minister of External Affairs, Dr. H. V. Evatt, in the House of Representatives, declared that Australia aimed to preserve peace in the Pacific if it could be achieved without sacrifice of principle, without prejudice to national security, and without endangering the solidarity of the democratic Powers. He saw no reason why it should be impossible for Japan to withdraw her forces from Indo-China, rendering it possible to ease the present economic restrictions, but all this, he said, would be of no avail if aggression in one quarter were to be succeeded by aggression elsewhere. Britain could not look on with equanimity if the Japanese forces attacked Russia, or if pressure against China were redoubled.

Dr. Evatt revealed that is the democratic sphere the Commonwealth Government was considering, first, the despatch of a small delegation to Russia; secondly, is conferring full consular rank on its representative at Dilli, at Portuguese Timor: thirdly, has reached an agx-eement in principle with the Netherlands Government which will give Australia adequate representation in the Netherlands East Indies and also lead to the appointment of a Dutch Minister to Canberra; fourthly, is considering the appointment of a Consul-General to the Argentine.

American Leadership

Referring to the talks between America and Japan, Dr. Evatt said the Australian Goveimment was content to allow the leadership and initiative in these discussions to be retained by the United States. He hoped the talks would result in an agreement and that a new chapter would commence in relationship between the leading Pacific Powei’s.

Dr. Evatt expressed surprise that while the British Empire was the ally of Russia in the fight against Germany, it was still at peace with Germany’s three eager satellites and accomplices in the struggle against Russia, namely, Finland, Hungary and Rumania. He expressed the opinion that strong and decisive action against these countries was the only commonsense method of preventing a deterioration of diplomatic and political relations. Dr. Evatt emphasised that the recent change in the Australian Government did not involve any vital change in the war policy. He pointed out that the delegation for Russia would be deferred due to the Russian intense concentration on her task of defeating the Germans.