Aust. Force As Soon As Possible: Link With N.Z. Troops Desired

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23321, 2 August 1950, Page 7

Aust. Force As Soon As Possible: Link With N.Z. Troops Desired

(N.Z.P.A.—Routei— Copyright.) (10.30 a.m.) WASHINGTON, August 1. The Australian Prime Minister, Mr. 11. G. Menzies, announced today that an Australian ground force which, he hoped, would be co-operating with New Zealand troops, would be serving in Korea within as few weeks as possible.

His statement was made in the course of a speech to an enthusiastic House of Representatives.

lie asked that the Federal Parliament be called together before troops were sent abroad. The Labour Party had declared support for the United Nations but aid not approve of bolstering American capitalism any more than supporting corrupt Asiatic Governments.

The announcement before 200 Congressmen as well as Government officials, diplomats and private citizens greeted with a prolonged burst of loud applause. Mr. Menzies said: “In the light of all considerations and after full consultation and agreement with the U.S.A. authorities, the Australian Government will, on the basis of the British Commonwealth Occupation Forces in Japan and subject to further recruitment of men with battle experience, organise and despatch within as few weeks as possible a force which, I hope, will be co-operating with New Zealand and would serve to make up a small but first-class combat group.” Empire Division Suggested

He added he would like to see this group join with similar groups from Britain and other British Commonwealth countries in a British Commonwealth division.

Mr. Menzies said that as far as ground forces were concerned, Australia’s "short run” capacity was very limited and troops had to be specially enlisted, trained and equipped. “In my talks with the leaders here, it has been completely agreed that the time factor is so important in Korea that a comparatively small force there, speedily prepared and despatched, is better than a large force postponed for many months,” he said. Mr. Menzies said he spoke not only as Australia’s leader but also as the representative of the British Commonwealth—“the Commonwealth which is your greatest group associate and friend in all things that matter in this world.” Mr. Menzies described Korea as a symptom of a widespread disease in the world. Brilliant Feat Of Arms “It behoves all of us to do what we can to develop our moral and physical strength in order that we may at all times be ready to resist aggression and drive out fear,” he said. "I would like to say that the onlooker who has any discernment will recognise this hastily improvised campaign against deliberate, organised aggression as a really brilliant feat of arms. Its value will be the more appreciated as the succeeding stages of combat are reach-

Mr. Menzies said all he wished to do was express his own and Australia's faith.

“We have all laid on us today the duty to be prepared and to be strong—not with the strength of a bully but with the strength of a deliverer. The world needs the United States and the British people. It needs every scrap of democratic strength that can be found in it. “No one need under-estimate the character of the danger that always confronts us. It is not only our privilege but our duty to be strong.” Canberra Discussions In Canberra, the Federal Cabinet last night considered the nature and size of the ground force for Korea but has not announced its decisions which have been communicated to Mr. Menzies in the United States. The v Chiefs of Staff of the Australian forces are meeting today to finalise the details.

By this morning 1119 men had applied in Sydney to join the force. In a broadcast address, the president of the State Labour Party, Mr. J, A. Ferguson, said the party did not want Australian troops used to help to preserve American capitalism.