Cite: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2590638

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AUSTRALIA FACES WAR MENACE        

VULNERABLE TO ATTACK

LABOUR WANTS STRONGER DEFENCE

MEASURES        

SYDNEY. Tuesday.                    

"color. ,heU«a« of '^?L?ferAStri(Toold b.W m ,

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Mr Curtin said that there may be a country which had implied and po- tential associations with Germany that might amount to obligations.

Reconsideration of the whole stra-   tegy for the defence of the British Commonwenlth of Nations was in- volved by the fact that Great Brit- ain was so sorely beset, Mr Curtin   added. He considered that as Brit- ain proved increasingly that she was able to repel a raider, so would there   be less disposition to take advantage of her position by striking at a por-

tion of the Commonwealth of Nations.  

Invitation To Enemy

The temptation for an enemy to   strike at a British dominion or colony was ever present if Britain was des-

perately beset in a long struggle It   would be to the interests of Germany     and Italy to press heavily on other [ parts of the Empire if Britain should  

be most heavily pressed

, Mr Curtin emphasised that it I would l>e foolish to describe the Bei

I lln-Rome-Tokvo Axis, as a mei o

phi ase It would be absurd to say that the East had no association wit n the West in the present age of con.

munications and contact Actiullv, Australia was further away from T O I don In distance than Tokya wasfiom

Berlin

Declai ing that the present position of the Dominions was as vulnerable as that of Britain, Mr Curtin point- ed out that exports and imports were ¿being reduced through routes being cut and being increasingly subject to j attack (

r No Time For Illusions

The Illusion wfiioh" "presumed" that what had happened élsewheie could not happen hei e 'had been catastro phicilly costly in Europe Austialia mu'jt play her part to the full if it ! wo s to hand this country, dow nj as a free Dominion the Australian Lab-

our Party accepted In lull a complete

<. -»ti.. i» >

obligation to ensure the maximum r capacity of its people and country to ^ resist.invasion, raid or attack.

Mr.' Curtin added that while the I Government and the Labour Party to did not agree on ' everything, both for recognised that they had at least n Uni trusteeship to assist each other so Bl! that any weakness should be strength- 3er cned and strength bl ought to the mo highest pitch of efficiency. However, at that did not mean the Party would Ilk not insist on the rights of the people

being preserved. The Labour Party Bu believed it was Imperative for the Ru safety of Australia that both the gu front Sand back doors of Singapore del should be safeguarded, "* «n it wo"'rt ¡ always be'a base upon which the de- ca fence ¡of Auslralla may be pivoteu. ^ ' " Í - - . bel

? Islands A» Braes For Attack ^

trc

He s$íd that Australia should not ^ allow ' islands in the -Pacific te be- Df] come springboards from which an at- ^ lack on this country could be launch- , ed He contended thnt Darwin and a

Port Moresby should be made as t<c strong as possible and tnat un w < 1M naval strength should be afforded to ¡m Australian stations, while as much ca help to Britain in the way ot maiei

lals and food should be given. He cn pointed out that the British Coven- j

ment 'did not ask Australia or the ac United States for men se

Defence Precautions fo

The Labour Party was not asking JJ*

for a recall of any men from abioad, P but it did ask that the paramount ^ principle in the reorientation of Aus- .

tralian naval,, military and air forces rr should be the defence of tlus'partof "-> the Empire, said Mr. Curtin.

' If Australia were not defended and b^

were unable to resist attack. ,the psv-^ chological effect upon the ¿whole world1 would be as great as if Brit

aln.heWlf fell. He asked the people It hot > to place an^ -overwhelming trust In the presumption that just as there »'ere those in the world who might attack there were others who would rush to.our aid. i

""Mr.iCurtin-appealed to the Governt ment, newspapers and critics to see that the workers [had a fair deal. The struggle In which we were now en- gaged, he said, was not a struggle

for,vested interests. ,

-'Mr. Curtin declared that the wor- ker wks giving,of his best and would

.continue to do sp.

"This ¡s a struggle againßt Hitler Ism and a struggle in which wejirc seeking to make vested Interests the hand maiden of the future happiness of all' people of Australia," said Mr.

Curtin.

The convention reaffirmed its loy- alty to Mr. Curtin as Leader of the Australian Labour Party.

Mr. Curtin Tells Members of

, Dangar

SYDNEY, Tuesday.

The rare procedure of the Federal Labour 'Leader addressing Federal and State Labour members in camera took place at the State Parliament

Jîouse this afternoon.

1 There were 12 Federal and 23 State menjbers present when Mr. Ciulin made a speech. For about two houW thev listened to confidential matters which dealt with private in , formation from the Government and méetihgs of the ..Advisory War, Coun- cil.", \<

i 'Mr, tCurtin would1 not;, comnient'on -the conference< beyond, Saying j ii was "confidential." ' ' ' >" . ' >'

State Prepares Against Í Emergencies

SYDNEY, Tuesday '

Among the tasks which the Minis- ter fpr Transport (Mr Bruxner) will carry out in the new Ministerial posi- tion to which he has been appointed is that of organisation .of "food ,supr plies and transport services to meet emergency conditions.

.' Mr. Bruxner has"" been appointed Minister In Charge of Emergency Transpott and Emergency Supply at the request of the -Commonwealth

Government. He has had to relin- quish the post of Minister in Charge of National Emergency Services in New South Wales. This> vacancy has been filled bv the Assistant Minister (Mr 'Primrose). ',* ,*

Mr. 'Bruxner declared to-day that his new task was a "closed book," 'and he could not give any deta'ils.

Mr. Primrose indicated that the Government intended passing legis- lation to place national1 ' emergency services on a statutory basis. He added » that the Bill would legalise

acts çî wardens'in carrying out their ' work,^nd also give the Government T power' to compel business liions to carry out precautions 'considered

necessary.

*

Crisis Demands National Unity

SYDNEY, Tuesday

"In Australia there are Trades Union leaders whose rightful place is in the executive administration of our war effoit. There is also an extremist minority whose place is outside of Australia. We cannot risk a repetition of what has happened in

,Frapce." .

I This statement was made to-dav ISX ,tne Master for Commerce (Sir «? l^^rleu,PaS.e)' wh0 said lt was incon lat ceivable that in-this crisis any nartv o- should not share in the rcsponsibil ne tty of - government. The national iy (leadership should be entrusted to the nt moat able executive, Irrespective of

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