GRAVE DECISIONS FOR AUSTRALIA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 189, 13 August 1941, Page 5

GRAVE DECISIONS FOR AUSTRALIA

Tong cabinet meeting THE PACIFIC SITUATION HAS j NEVER BEEN MORE GRAVE Melbourne. Aug. 11. I The Australian Cabinet met for I 12 hours to-day to discuss the situa- | lion in the Far East, and is meeting again 10-morrow. Service chiefs were consulted, and when the Government reopens discussions to-morrow it is thought there will be an early conference tilth Mr. J. Curtin, leader of the Federal Labour Party. Grave decisions faced the Cabinet Army ollicials worked over the wecki end organising against any emergI ency that would make a sudden deI mand upon Australia's manpower as a I result of further aggressive moves in the near north. Australia's Fruntivi After arriving in Melbourne, Mr. Menzies said that the Pacific situation was more dangerous than ever before. While wanting peace in the Pacific Australia was not disposed to run away from tne geographical fact that Singapore was part of the Australian frontier. Army. Navy, and Air chiefs attended the sessions of Cabinet which met immediately after the arrival of Mr. Menzies by the Adelaide express. After an all-day meeting, Mr. Menzies said: “We devoted the whole of our discussion to the Far Eastern position. Any policies arrived at, of course, are reached in consultation i with Britain and the other Dominions, i Consequently we have been concerned ' to clear our own minds and put ourI selves in a position to offer our views on this crucial position to the other I Dominions. Tension Due to Japan. i "There is no doubt that Japan's I occupation of Indo-China and subsequent moves in the direction of Thailand have created a very high degree lof tension. I say again that Ausi tralia is no party to any policy of ■ encirclement and never has been. "There is no such policy adopted by 1 any British country. We are con- ( eerned with the security of the I British Empire and the things it ■ stands for. ■ "One of the points of that security iis Singapore. When one remembers ■ that, one sees the full significance of I the decisions that will have to be

"They are decisions which not only involve Australia, but also the United States the Netherlands Indies, and other countries similarly placed. Tiie problems are suc'i that they cadi for the calmest, clearest judgment." Part of Mr. Menzies' speech was picked out for comment by Virginio Gayda, bettor known as “Mussolini's mouthpiece.” in the Giornale d'ltalia. Commenting upon British and American announcements about "such far-off frontiers," he said that those who made the announcements did not take into account that German' and Japan might reverse the matter and place their frontiers in the British and American Empires. U.P.A.