PERSONAL TRIBUTE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 69, 23 March 1942, Page 5

PERSONAL TRIBUTE

"SERVICE IN CAUSE OF FREEDOM” Recd. 7.5 p.m. Washington, March 21. The Washington Post, in an editorial, said Mr. R. G. Casey's appointment was a personal tribute from Mr. Churchill, and added:—"Perhaps Mr. Churchill, during his visit here, shared America's high regard for the popular Minister.” It declared that Mr. Casey's severance of his connection with Ausralia in order to enter the British service must have been a diliicult decision for the Minister. ‘The over-riding satisfaction is that in Cairo he will be serving a cause which transcends nationality, namely, the cause of freedom, and we in Washington know the worth of that service wherever the course of Mr. Casey's future lies." MR. CURTIN’S GRIEVANCE MANNER OF NEWS ANNOUNCEMENT London, March 20. IL is understood that Mr. Churchill cabled to the Australian Prime Minister, Mr. Curtin, to-ciay, stating that he would tell Mr. Casey to do whatever was necessary to acquaint Dr Evatt of the position in the United States, and adding that he could not understand Mr. Curtin’s statement that he did not desire any change at present in Mr. Casey’s position, and might be forced to quote Mr. Curtin’s cables to him unless the matter was cleared up. Mr. Curtin, in replying, is understood to have repeated his earlier cable regarding the difficulty of replacing Mr. Casey, and to have commented on Mr. Churchill's persistence. Mr. Curtin referred to Mr. Churchill's discussions on the subject, with Mr. Casey while Mr. Churchill was in America, which Mr. Curtin said he regarded as emphasising that Mr. Churchill wanted Mr. Casey and that Mr. Casey was willing to accept appointment. Mr. Curtin informed Mr. Churchill that he proposed to table Paper containing all the cables’that had passed. Mr. Curtin is believed to have stated that the first he heard of the announcement of Mr. Casey’s appointment was from the 8.8. C. last night. Thus he learned what his Minister had done from the world at large. Mr. Curtin assured Mr. Churchill that his personal part in the matter was above reproach and that he had no complaint against the Government. He would not press Mr. Casey to remain, because the choice was Mr. Casey’s and not Mr. Churchill’s or that of the Australian Government.