GIFTS FOR U.S.A.?

Grey River Argus, 26 February 1944, Page 4

GIFTS FOR U.S.A.?

Aussie and French Territory SIR. K. MURDOCH'S IDEA DENOUNCED. (Rec. 11.20.) SYDNEY, Feb. 25. “The Australian Government agrees with the comment made by, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, when he said that ‘Sir Keith Murdoch’s extraordinary attack on the Australian-New Zealand Agreement was as unwarranted as it was misleading.’ “This comment was made in the House of Representatives to-day by the Minister of Ex-i

ternal Affairs, Doctor Evatt, when re-! plying to questions that were asked’ about Sir K. Murdoch’s article in his j paper, the “Melbourne Herald,” as 1 cabled on February 22. Doctor Evatt further described the article as “certainly un-Australian in sympathy and in outlook.” Mr. Pollard, the Labour Minister, of Victoria, asked: “Is: it a fact that in the article referred to, Sir K. f) Murdoch has suggested that New Caledonia should be taken 'over by the United States, and that Australia should hand over to the United Slates the Australian territory of New Britain ?” Doctor Evatt replied: “The meaning of his article was unmistakable. The Australian Government would not consent to the giving up of New Britain. Both the Australian and the New Zealand Governments, like the other United Nations, have given pledges that, after victory, the sovereignty of France will be restored. These pledges cover French sovereignty in New Caledonia and the New Hebrides.” He added that the Aus : tralian Government looked forward to the liberation of France and to its restoration as a Great Power.