AUSTRALIA'S AIM

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24134, 28 November 1941, Page 8

AUSTRALIA'S AIM

PEACE WITHOUT BISK SITUATION IN PACIFIC I NEW DIPLOMATIC MEASURES (Reed. 10.32 p.m.) CANBERRA, Nov. 27 In the course of a speech on the international situation, the Minister of External Affairs, Dr. H. V. Evatt, in the House of Representatives, said Australia aimed to preserve peace in the Pacific if it could be achieved without sacrifice of princi- j pie, without prejudice to national _ security and without endangeiing the solidarity of the democratic } Powers. ( Dr. Evatt said he saw no reason why it should not ho possible for Japan to 'withdraw lier forces from Indo-China, ? thus rendering it possible to ease the j present, economic restrictions; but ai , this, he said, would be of no avail u aggression in one quarter were to he succeeded by aggression elsewhere. Britain could not look on with equanimity if Japanese forces _ attacked Russia, or if the pressure against China were redoubled. Portuguese Timor Dr. Evatt revealed that in the democratic sphere the Commonwealth Government was considering the despatch of a small delegation to Russia but said its departure would be deferred , due to Russia's intense concentration , on her task of defeating the Germans. ; The Government was conferring full consular rank on its representative at , Dilli, in Portuguese Timor. The Min- ] ister said Timor must be regarded tis ■ one of the main points of entry into ■ the Commonwealth. "We cannot regard • with equanimity any development threatening the integrity of this part ; of the Portuguese Empire, he added. Netherlands Indies Agreement Dr. Evatt said the Government had also reached an agreement in principle with the Netherlands Government which would give. Australia adequate repre- . sent at ion in the Netherlands Last Indies, and also lead to the appointment of a Dutch Minister to Canberra. Iho Government was also considering the appointment of a Consul-General in the Argentine. Referring to the talks between America and Japan, Dr. Evatt said the Australian Government was content to allow the leadership and initiative in these discussions to be retained by the United States. He hoped the talks would result in an agreement and that a new chapter would commence in the relationship between the leading Pacific Powers. Germany's Allies Dr. Evatt expressed surprise that, while the British Empire was an ally of Russia in the light against Germany, it was still at peace with Germany's three eager satellites and accomplices in the struggle against Russia, namely, Finland, Hungary and Rumania. He thought strong and decisive action against these countries was the only comnionsense method of preventing the deterioration of diplomatic and political relations. Dr. Evatt emphasised that the recent change in the Australian Government did not involve any vital change in the war policy. OPTIMISM DISCOUNTED TOKIO RADIO ATTITUDE WASHINGTON MEETINGS LONDON, Nov. 27 A statement made by the Tokio radio and quoted in a Singapore message says that, since meetings have been held in Washington between the representatives of the A.B.C.D. Powers, no optimism is warranted in the outcome of the talks. The Domei (Japanese) news agency predicts that the next few days will reveal whether the Washington discussions end in success or failure. Japan is not in a position, it says, to waste time in conducting negotiations with thov United States. Three hundred thousand Chinese troops are stated by the Japan TimesAdvertiser to be concentrated close to the frontier of Indo-China. They constituted too serious a threat for Japan to tolerate. The United States Embassy in Tokio has renewed its advice to Americans to leave the Japanese Empire, occupied China and Indo-China as soon as possible. The sailing of the Tatuta Marti to America has been postponed to December 2 to accommodate Americans. A Singapore message states that a minefield has been laid off the southern coast of Jobore in the eastern approaches to Singapore. A message from Hanoi says the Government of Indo-China has apologised to the United _ States for the bombing of the American Consulate at Saigon. The authorities are doing their utmost to apprehend those responsible. CHINA'S PEACE TERMS t WITHDRAWAL OF JAPANESE CHUNGKING, Nov. 20 China can. fight on for any number*of years, said Marshal Chiang Kai-shek, addressing the People's Political Council. He approved the council's request for the introduction of a constitutional system of Government when peace is restored, hut said that one-party rule must continue while the war persists. The council approved a resolution that China's minimum peace terms will be the withdrawal of the Japanese troops from China and Manchuria, the total abolition of the puppet regimes in Manchuria and China, and the isseparable union of Manchuria and China. VISIT TO NEAR EAST ENVOY OF MR. ROOSEVELT WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 President Roosevelt announced that Mr. William Bullitt, former Ambassador to France; has been assigned as the President's special representative to the Near East. Mr. Bullitt will gather information about swiit-hreak-ing developments in the Eastern Mediterranean area and discover needs and report. He will visit Libya, the Nile and the Red Sea areas, and possibly Palestine.