PACIFIC BASES

Chronicle (Levin), 15 March 1946, Page 5

PACIFIC BASES

Press Assn.

Australian Policy Defeed by Dr. Evatt NO HASTY REALJ.OCATION

By Telegraph

-Copyright

Received Thursday 8.5 p.m. CANBERRA, March 14. Russia 's policy in expanding her sphere of influence in Europe and Asia^ jwas not one of aggression, said thev Minister of External Affairs (Dr. Evatt). The policy was directed towards self-protection and security ! against future attacks. In the course of a speech in the I House of Representatives he said the | Australian GQvernment would not be a jparty to any hasty reallocation of ! Pacific territories or the disposition of Pacific military bases. It did not believe the Powers should have the right to claim territories they had conquered hy force of arms. Other points he made were that Australia 's policy. in Indonesia was aimed at discouraging provocation and violence, and that an entirely new conception in British Commonwealth relations was emerging. He traced recent history in relation to the Soviet as first of all the isoiaitionism of 1933 to 1939 and the expanj sion eulminating in the agreement oi |Mr. Churchill and President Roosevelt jwith Russia. These gave Russia con;siderable territorial gains in the beliel ' that Russia would he a trusted and peace-loving ally in war and peace. j Dr. Evatt submitted that that belief had not yet been given up. Russia 's ! exclusion from the atomic agreement J was evidence of a growing suspicion. Concerning the Pacific, he said that I Australia would enter into no commit(ments which would tend to lessen the I control of the Australian people over i their own territory. | Referring to the resurgence of Fascjism and Nazism, he said: "In my jopinion they have not been finallv deI feated, either in international or domestic affairs. ' ' j He predicted a hright future for : UNO. "Those who endanger the life i of United Nations threaten* our chief bulwark against the third world war," he said.