AUSTRALIA MAY SEND ARMS TO MALAYA ON NAVAL SHIPS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22697, 23 July 1948, Page 5

AUSTRALIA MAY SEND ARMS TO MALAYA ON NAVAL SHIPS

CANBERRA, July 22. In his first detailed public statement .on the position in Malaya since his return to Australia from overseas, the Prime Minister, Mr. J- B. Chifley, stated that at its meeting on August 2, Cabinet will consider any request made by the British Government to send arms to Malaya.

He added that if the Cabinet decided to send arms to strengthen the Malayan armed forces the Government would undertake to deliver them. The Australian Army was holding 100 Sten guns belonging to the British War Office for disposal. If the British Government asked that these guns be sent to Malaya they would be delivered as early as possible. If the British Government asked for the supply of Australian equipment to Malaya the request would go before the Cabinet because of an earlier Cabinet decision banning the export of arms to any country. His statement did not refer to the boycott by the Seamen’s Union on ships carrying arms to Malaya or to any proposal to offer the services of Australian troops. It was later indicated officially that if the Cabinet decided to send arms they would be taken to Malaya in naval vessels, thus avoiding any attempted blockade by the seamen or watersiders. Some mining companies are beating the Seaman’s Union ban by sending pistols and ammunition, with Customs approval, by air freight. The secretary of the Victorian branch of the Seamen’s Union, Mr. W. Bird, said that “no Australian seaman worth his salt will help to carry arms to white planters and traders who are trying to enslave the Malayan people.’’