SOUTH PACIFIC DEFENCE

Grey River Argus, 12 May 1944, Page 5

SOUTH PACIFIC DEFENCE

Curtin’s Plans EXPECTED TO BE ADOPTED (BY ALLIES. LONDON, May 10. British warships, American planes and Australian troops may jointly police the South and South-west Pacific security zone, as the result of proposals Mr. Curtin is submitting to the Dominions’ Prime Ministers’ conference. The >plan which would be implemented immediately after the overthrow of Japan will be subject to further consultations between Mr. Curtin and Mr. Roosevelt.

The whole wartime structure of Australia may be vitally affected by the result of the current deliberations of the Prime Ministers. It was made clear, to-eay, in circles in close touch with the Empire leaders, that Mr. Curtin’s thesis, that the maintenance of a large proportion .of the nation’s manpower in the fighting services was no longer compatable • with the production “of vastly increasing supplies of foodstuffs for Britain and liberated Europe has been wholeheart-, edly accepted by Mr. Churchill and other Prime Ministers.

Mr. Curtin left his colleagues in no doubt about the Australian will to fight. He repeatedly emphasised that Australia was most anxious to actively assist in throwing back the Japanese. He declared the nation’s manhood would prefer a combat role in the Far Eastern war. However, Mr. Curtin went on to demonstrate statistically that Australia’s seven million population was incapable of keeping up the fighting forces to the present level and simultaneously meeting the demands from the United Nations for more foodstuffs. Mr. Curtin’s forthright exposition of the Pacific manpower situation is believed greatly to have enhanced his reputation. He is generally commended for the selflessness with which he has advanced Australia’s views, combined with his commonsense approach to the common Empire problems.