AUSTRALIA’S FIGHT

Grey River Argus, 16 March 1942, Page 5

AUSTRALIA’S FIGHT

CURTIN’S BROADCAST

To the United States

[Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Rec. 6.30). CANBERRA. March 15. A warning to America that Australia was the last Democratic oastion protecting the west coast of the United States, was given uy the Prime Minister of Am. ir alia, HonJohn Curtin, in a shortwave broadcast to the United States on Saturday. ' ■ "If Australia goes, the Americas are wide open,” he declared. Mr. Curtin addressed the Americans as "Comrades in this war.”.. He paid a tribute to the part in which Britain was playing. That part was coupled with her obligation to help Russia. Mr. Curtin said he recognised that the Mother Country had found it impossible to "o all out in the Pacific. The result was that the responsibility fell' on Australia and New Zealand. Mr. Cutm appealed io America to be Australia’s leader, and he pledged Australia to pull every ounce of her weight. The Australians, he said, were flghtino- mad, and the whole nation was stripped for war. "Our minds are set on attack, rather than on defence,” he said. “We believe that attack is the best defence in the Pacific. I speak from a united people to a united people —to vou who are, or will be fignting—to you who are sweating m factories'or the workshops. I look to you to turn out vital munitions of war, and to provide those enormous resources which are requ red for our preat task.

"I speak to you at a time when the loss of Java and the splendid resistance of the gallant Dutch give us a feeling both of sadness and of pride.” Mr. Curtin added: “It has been our wish that the Pacific War Council should have been located in Washington, and it is a matter of some reget that, after the ninety-five days of Japan’s staggering advance south, we have not obtained first-hand contact with America. Therefore, we propose sending to you our Minister of External Affairs, Doctor Evatt, as the representative of a people who are determined to hold, and to hit back at the enemy as courageously as those from whom we spring. Our Minister will tell you that we are fighting mad—ready for anything — that we are committed io total warfare. I give you the pledge of my country that there whi always be an Australian Government and an Australian people! The justice of our cause is too strong to be ’.overcome.” Mr. Curtin then gave a brief h;storv of Australia’s war effort, and of the theatres of war in which her soldiers have already fought. He said: "Our fighting forces are born attackers. We shall hit the enemy whenever, and as often, as we can. The extent of our resistance will be measured .only bv the weapons that are pl'aced in our hands.” Mr. Curtin’s broadcast was kept a secret until the hour of its delivery, in order to prevent the broadcast bein" jammed bv the Japanese. LONDON, March 13. The Australian Prime Minister (Mr J. Curtin) announced to-night that the Commonwealth Government had decided to send the Minister’ of External Affairs (Dr. H. V. Evatt) to Washington to discuss with the American authorities the position in the Pacific.

Mr Curtin said: “Australia looks to America as the paramount factor on the democracies’ side in the Paci ? lie.’”

“Britain,” he added, “had an abligation to supply all psosible help to Russia and could not be expected at the same time to go al! out in the Pacific.”

The keynote of Mr Curtin’s speech was “Attack."

Speech Widely Published

(Rec. 9.10) NEW YORK, March 14.

All of the American newspapers and press services as well as the radio services, are giving wide publicity to the Australian Prime Minister, Mr Curtin’s speech. They are emphasising his warning that, if Australia falls, the west coast of the United States will be the next invasion target of the Japanese. The New York “Times” for example, prints the entire text of the speech. Alihough Mr Curtin spoke too late fcr editorial comment by the morning newspapers, a strong reaction co the speech can expected in the Saturday afternoon editions.