LARGELY ON HER OWN RESOURCES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 297, 17 December 1941, Page 5

LARGELY ON HER OWN RESOURCES

AUSTRALIA’S DEFENCE HOPE FOR HELP FROM RUSSIA (Ry Telegraph—Tress A-*ociat:on—Gipyright » (Recd. 12.15 a.m. Canberra. Dec 16 In a speech in the House of Representatives to-day. the Minister of External Affairs. Dr. Evatt. described the position of special danger in which Australia is placed by the extension of the war to the Pacific. The Government, he said, had been stocktaking. It had inherited a situation wherein, for one reason or another. the defence of this country had been treated as a subordinate and subsidiary pari of a distant war. but from now on Australians would be thrown hack more and more upon their own resources. He expressed a hope that Britain the United States and Russia would bp joined in a firm alliance against the Axis Powers. He disclosed that on two occasions before Ihe outbreak of the war with Japan. th° Australian Government had suggested to “thr proper authorities” the advisability of a reciprocal agreement between Britain and Russia whereby, in the event of Japanese aggression against either, the other would he hound to declar? war against lhe aggressor. Apparently that suggestion was regarded as premature. He felt that when the military situation in Russia became stabilised to Russia’s advantage. Australia could reasonably look forward to Russian aid against Japan. The latter’s ultimate design against Russia could hardly be concealed. The Australian Government, he added, would continue its effort to assist in procuring a full alliance between Russia and the enemies of Japan. In the meantime it was essential that political and military organisations should be established with supreme control of the Pacific war effort and to this end Australia was working.