SECURITY OF AUSTRALIA ASSURED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 23 June 1943, Page 2

SECURITY OF AUSTRALIA ASSURED

BASE FOR OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS (Rec. 12.35 p.m.) Canber •., This Day. “The battle of Australia has been won just assuredly as had the battle of Britain,” Mr Curtin said. He was replying at an all-night sitting of the Federal House of Representatives to criticism made by Mr Fadden, Leader of the Opposition, in moving a vote of no-confidence in the Government. Mr Curtin added that by this he meant the security of Australia as a base for offensive operations in the South-West Pacific had now been assured. It is expected the no-confidence debate will continue for at least 40 hours. This would mean that the vote would be taken some time on Thursday after a continuous sitting with breaks only for meals. Although the no-confidence motion is expected to fail by a single vote, political commentators believe events in the next few weeks are likely to lead to the dissolution of Parliament. “It is clear that Parliament, precariously balanced and sharply divided by the censure debate, is ceasing to become workable, and an inevitable appeal to the electors should not be long delayed,” says the “Sydney Morning Herald” to-day. Commenting on Mr Fadden’s charges the paper adds that only a bigot would deny that the work done and measures taken by. the Curtin Government have played a strong part in ensuring Australia’s security. Mr Curtin said he expected his Government to be judged on the issue of “organising the country to hold the country.” His Government had sought to achieve three objectives: (1) In conjunction with the New Zealand Government it had urged the establishment of appropriate machinery for higher direction of the Pacific war. This resulted in the establishment of the Pacific War Council in Washington. (2) General strategic control 0 f the SouthWest Pacific area had been vested in the combined Chief of Staffs in Washington. (3) It had recommended the appointment of a supreme commander to exercise operational control over naval, land and air forces in this area. General MacArthur had been appointed. Mr Curtin answered other points of Mr Fadden’s criticism. The debate is still proceeding.—P.A.