Labour Blamed For State Of Aust. Forces: Aid In Korea Delayed

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23314, 25 July 1950, Page 5

Labour Blamed For State Of Aust. Forces: Aid In Korea Delayed

(N.Z.P.A.—Keuter— Copyright.)

(10.30 a.m.) CANBERRA, July 25. The Minister of External Affairs, Mr. P. C. Spender, said that the Labour Party, when in office, had allowed Australia’s defence forces to decline to the lowest level known for many years.

This had made the task of aiding South Korea more difficult than it should have been.

Replying to statements made by Dr. H. V. Evatt and Mr. A. A. Calwell, he accused them of indulging in political manoeuvres and inaccurate propaganda on an issue of gravity. In an exclusive statement to the British United Press, Mr. Calwell, the former Minister of Immigration, said: “If I was an American, I believe I would feel mad and bitter at the unanimous failure of all other member States to the United Nations, most of whom are living on the charity of the American taxpayer, to send ground forces to help the United States Army in Korea. General MacArthur got everything he asked for in men. materials and other supplies from the late Mr. John Curtin, the Labour wartime Prime Minister of Australia. “I am not sure he will get much support from the present Australian Government.” “Kept in the Dark” The Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Dr. H. V. Evatt, charged that since the special session of Parliament on July 6 the Opposition and Australian public had been “kept in the dark as to what is being done and what is expected of us,” and added: “It is the primary duty of the Government to keep Parliament and the Opposition fully informed and regularly consulted in an emergency so grave and so rapidly extending. By collective action, an aggressive nation can be checked by the only argument it recognises—the argument of force.” Mr. Spender said Mr. Calwell’s outburst was obviously prompted by his desire to use the occasion for party purposes.

Australia would have been in a much better position to give aid had not Dr. Evatt and Mr Calwell and their colleagues allowed the defence forces to fall to a lamentable level at the time the Labour party was thrown from office.

The present position of the defence forces did not diminish Australia’s obligation which the Government firmly accepted to provide aid, but it had made its performance more difficult. Premier’s Talks in Washington It was true that Australia had yet made no announcement regarding the United Nations’ appeal for additional assistance and, in the circumstances, one could well understand Impatience for an actual decision.

Mr. Spender suggested that such a decision would be delayed until after Mr. Menzies had conferred with President Truman and Mr. Dean Acheson.

Replying to Mr. Spender from Melbourne. Mr. Calwell claimed that the Australian Government had rejected the appeal by M. Trygve Lie. United Nations Secretary-General, to help in Korea.

“Both Houses unanimously approved of the Government motion supporting the action of the United Nations over Korea and protesting against the North Korean aggression,” he added.

“A fortnight after the Australian Government equally unanimously rejected a request from the United Nations for certain forms of assistance which the Americans needed in South Korea. This all seems so silly. "Either we support the United Nations or we don’t. If we think Korea could be another Pearl Harbour then we ought not to be pretending and hoping that the American people won't see through us.”