FEDERAL CABINET

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24685, 14 August 1941, Page 8

FEDERAL CABINET

REQUEST TO LEADER Another London visit CANBERRA, Aug. 12. The Federal Cabinet, after having continued its'meeting to-day, asked Mr Menzies to go to London again as scon as possible. Mr Menzies made the following statement: —“ Cabinet has decided to arrange the summoning of Parliament on August 20, when statements will be made on the Far East, and, if possible, a private session will be held to permit a frank discussion on the whole matter. Questions of great moment have been before Cabinet and are naturally subject to exchanges among the various Empire Governments. We feel that Parliament should, as far as possible, be acquainted with their background and implications. The public will realise that while the state of international tension continues decisions in policy have to be made sometimes of a far-reaching kind. “I should alsoi add that recent events give rise to further discussion on the desirability of Ministerial representation in London, where decisions of great importance to Empire policy and strategy will inevitably be made and where the powers and functidns of the ablest high commissioners are necessarily somewhat circumscribed. Cabinet has in fact requested me to proceed to London again as soon as 'possible. In the present political and international circumstances there are difficulties in such a course, though they may not be insuperable. I therefore feel that it would not be right for me to accede to the request without the frankest discussion by all parties in Parliament. It js imperative that whoever goes must have the real backing of Parliament. I further point out that whoever goes, the administration of Australia’s war effort will continue to be conducted in Australia and therefore no delays will be occasioned in the absence of one man, who will, in any event, need to devote the whole of his energies trr his overseas work and responsibilities. Mr Curtin has been good enough to confer with me during the day on these matters and he cofnpletely aerees that the early summoning of Parliament is the correct course.”

LABOUR’S ATTITUDE OPPOSITION PROBABLE (Rec. 2 a.m.) MELBOURNE, Aug. 13. While it is believed that the Opposition Leader, Mr J. Curtin, is prepared to agree to Mr Menzies going abroad as Prime Minister, he will await the views of his party before declaring himself. A section of Labour members is planning to defeat the move, especially if Mr Menzies’s stay in England is likely to be prolonged, in which case an effort will be made to have Mr Fadden appointed and vested with the full powers of Prime Ministership. A most interesting aspect of Mr Menzies’s projected transfer to London, according to political writers, is that it may rule out the danger of a crisis arising in Parliament which would lead to a general election. At to-morrow’s meeting of the War Advisory Council Labour members are expected to challenge Mr Menzies’s right to go to London again as Prime Minister. Mr J. A. Beasley to-day said he was unaware of any changed conditions concerning the Far East which would warrant Mr Menzies going to London. Moreover, if the position in the Far East was as serious as Mr Menzies made out, then his place was in Australia, not London. Dr Evatt expressed a similar view. It is understood that Mr Menzies is arranging to travel by the first available Clipper, so that he can confer with President Roosevelt on the journey.