NATION READY

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21599, 9 December 1941, Page 4

NATION READY

AUSTRALIA’S STAND BROADCAST BY PREMIER DEFENCE OF FREEDOM (United Press Assn. —kite. Tel. Cooyrlgnt), SYDNEY, Dec. 8 An announcement that Australia was at war with Japan was made by the Commonwealth Prime Minister, Mr J. Curtin, in a broadcast address tonight. “We did not want war in the Pacific,” said the Prime Minister, “and Australia’s representatives, as well as those of the United Kingdom, the United States and the Netherlands East Indies, made it clear that if war came to the Pacific it would be of Japan's making. Japan has now made war. I point out that the hands of the democracies are clean.”

“For the first time in the history of the Pacific armed might walks abroad,” said Mr Curtin. “War has been forced upon us not because of stubborn resistance by the democracies to every demand Japan made, but because Japan would not assist to overcome difficulties which could have been negotiated. Japan chose the Hitler method.”

Australia would go to battle stations in defence of the free way of life and each person must take his or her place in the interests of the nation. This was her darkest hour.

Stating that the Australian Government was fully prepared and in readiness for any eventuality, Mr Curtin said that since early this morning the service heads and Cabinet had been meeting and plans devised for the nation’s protection had been put into effect. All leave for fighting services had been cancelled; an extension of mobilisation of the armed forces was being prepared; the Minister of Home Security would confer with the Army authorities tomorrow concerning air-raid precautions; restrictions would immediately be imposed on the use of petrol; all work of essential national service would continue on public holidays; all transport would be concentrated on necessary work. Mr Curtin said the War Cabinet would meet tomorrow and Parliament would assemble on Tuesday next week.

The war has resulted in an immediate rush to the colours in Australia.

War Outlook Changed

After a War Cabinet meeting tonight, Mr Curtin said an additional appreciation of the situation called for the Government taking a view of the Pacific war not as an incident in the general war. It was itself a new war and made necessary a complete revision of the whole strategy of the general war.

The Supply Department had been asked to advise the Government what establishments should be allowed to trade aftor 6 p.m. to effect a saving in power.

Mr Ward, Minister of Labour, would proceed t’o Darwin to deal with the labour supply organisation at that port.