DEFENCE OF EMPIRE

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24906, 20 June 1946, Page 5

DEFENCE OF EMPIRE

Australia’s Part In Plan DEVELOP HEAVY INDUSTRY (NJ&. Press Association-Copy right) (Rec. 12.10 aun. CANBERRA. June 19. “Britain wants Australia to give the highest priority to the development of its heavy industries, particularly the shipbuilding and aircraft industries,’ said the Prime Minister (Mr Chifley) in the House of Representatives. “This is part of the plan for Empire defence evolved at the Empire Prime Ministers’ conference jn London. Australia is prepared to shoulder greater responsibilities for Pacific defence, including the upkeep of strategic bases and welcomes the joint use of bases with the United States on a reciprocal basis. Mr Chifley said Britain had acknowledged her vulnerability by admitting it was undesirable to hold in the United Kingdom the main concentration of supplies and material for an Empire war effort. Australia was seeking to provide the widest possible base for a supply structure for Empire and Pacific needs. Australia’s view was that the approach to a common Pacific defence scheme should be by agreement among Britain, Australia and New Zealand and thereafter with the United States and later with, other nations with possessions in the area. These views were fully endorsed by Britain and New Zealand. Mr Chifley added that Britain had proposed that each member of the British Commonwealth should maintain Service missions in London. Britain would maintain similar missions in each Dominion. Australia was creating a new weapons and equipment development committee and had sent to the Defence Science Conference in London a delegation of Service and scientific advisers.