PLEA FOR REALISM

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20678, 31 January 1942, Page 5

PLEA FOR REALISM

TRAGEDY OF MALAYA SHARE OF THE BLAME TALK TO AUSTRALIANS BRISBANE, Jan. 25. Malaya was a tragic disaster, but Australia must take her share of the blame, said Sir Keith Murdoch, on the arrival at Brisbane from London. Australia should state her case strongly and publicly, he added, but an attempt at hectoring or huckstering would do no good. Sir Keith Murdoch, who is managing director of the Herald and Weekly Times, Melbourne, and is a former Director-General of Information, has been on a visit to the United States and England. He said that in Malaya we had been outranged, outnumbered and outwitted, and it need not have occurred. The urgent help that had gone through and was going through to Malaya disproved the statement that none could have been spared. Early Effort Needed

One-tenth of the effort put into the Libyan campaign, if well used in Malaya, would have saved a great and important province. “I know and deeply respect the work, sacrifice and spirit of- Britain in 1941—one of the greatest of all her years,” said Sir Keith.

“One must agree that the Libyan campaign has had its value. The diversion of hundreds of planes and tanks to Russia probably was vital to Moscow, and the arrival of capital ships at Malaya theoretically was in time. “Nevertheless, we have the right to be deeply and gravely concerned that such disasters as Malaya and Peari Harbour should have allowed the wide creation of Japanese strongposts. “But let us take our share of the blame. What interest in Singapore have any of our Governments taken? What money have we provided? To what extent did we arrange for war, even compared with America?

“Hectoring No Use” “It does us no good to be selfrighteous or to attempt hectoring or huckstering. Let us state our case strongly and publicly, but let us take an even more intelligent attitude toward accepting at once places in the Supreme Council of strategy* policy and command which are certainly ours for the asking.

“Isolation should have long been discarded in Australia. Full co-operation and obedience to the supreme command, confidence in its decisions, because 'of our knowledge and part in them, and faith in the future must be the order of the day.” Sir Keith pleaded for realism in Australia. "Let us admit the Japanese outwitted our people by destructive and special attacks on Singapore, the Philippines and Pearl Harbour,” he went on. “Let us admit that they have gained power to move their divisions and their ships, and power in the air, and that during this period we must suffer further heavy and bitter blows. “I am not pessimistic about the final result. I know that Australia will go out and find her enemy and, not huddling her garments about her, wait as other nations waited.

“I am certain that the British people will send every possible assistance.” Strength of America Sir Keith said that he saw in America strength and her will to win, against Japan, another reason for optimism, but he warned Australians not to expect the skies and the seas to fill quickly. “We will play the enemy’s game if we become introspective and deeply concerned with possibilities and improbabilities, instead of developing a vigorous counter-offensive where the issues are being decided,” he said.