WIDEST BASE FOR DEFENCE STRUCTURE

Chronicle (Levin), 20 June 1946, Page 5

WIDEST BASE FOR DEFENCE STRUCTURE

AUSTRALIA'S PRIORITY FOR HEAVY INDUSTRIES Received Wednesday, 11.55 p.m. | CANBERRA, June 19. ! Britain Avanted Australia to give the highest prjority to the development of ils heavy industries, particularly the' sliipbuilding and aiieraft industries, said the Prime Minister, Mr. Ohiflev, in ; the House of Repre.seutatives. This was part of the plan for Empire defenee evolved at the Empire Prime ' Ministers' Conferenee in London. j Australia, he said, was prepared to slioulder great responsihilities for I'acific defenee, including the iqdceep ot strategie bases and welcorned the joint use of bases with the United Htates on a recipfocal basis. Mr. Ghifley said i Britain acknowledged her vulnerahility by admitting it was undesirable to liold in the IJnited Kingdom the maru ; * c.bncentration of supplies and material for 4in Empire war" effort. Australia Was seeking to provide the widest pos's)hle base for a supply structure for - Empire and Paci/ic needs. Australia 's view was that tlie approach to a com- j mon Pacilie defenee scheme shouhl be j by agreement lietween Britain, Aus- j tralia and New Zealand, tliereafter with the United States, and later with | other nations with possessi.ons in the j area. These views were fullv eiulorsed , by Britain and New Zealanil. ' Mr. -Ohiti ey added that Britain pro- | posed that eaeh memher of the British j Commonwealth should maintain service j missions in London and Britain would | maintain similar missrons in each Do- j niinioh. . Australia was creating a new i Weapons'vand-**Eqijjpuient- Development Committee and" had sent to the Defenee ' •' R_ei§nc*e Conferenee in. Lqndo.n a strong I :;t3elegati.op -of -Service and scientific • advisers. - * , ' ' •