AGREEMENT ABROAD

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 232, 28 June 1944, Page 4

AGREEMENT ABROAD

Mr. Curtin To Report To Parliament tßy Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) SYDNEY, June 27. A general reassessment of the use of Australia’s limited manpower resources to strengthen war production has been predicted by Mr. Curtin. This, he said, would not interfere with the country’s front-line fighting strength. Immediately on his arrival at Brisbane late yesterday, Mr. Curtin began bis consultations with General MacArthur. Mr. Curtin appeared to be in better health than when he sailed early in April. Mr. Curtin said that he would report both to Cabinet and to Parliament pn the important decisions made at the discussions which he attended abroad. These decisions, iu many respects, would affect the life of the world not only immediately, but in the years to come. “Basically, we were concerned with a war that is still being waged with the maximum capacity the United Nations possess,” stated Mr. Curtin. “We have passed through the twilight and' now approach the dawn, but victory will be earlier in proportion to the way in which we maintain our effort. This is a time when a hard punch can put an end to the fight in tlie sixth round instead of its going on to the twentieth.” - Matter for Government. In the longest, interview he has given as Prime Minister, Mr. Curtin, told 50 Australian and overseas correspondents that he had reached complete understanding with the Governments of the United Kingdom and the United States on a reassessment of Australia's war effort, though the details were essentially a matter for the Australian Government. A balance between such matters as food production and the fighting services had to be attained. J Mr. Curtin was questioned at length on the future uses pf the A.1.F., and declared that Australia’s fighting men would remain in the front line of the war till the Germans and the Japanese were defeated. They would be used in theatres beyond Australia. Mr. Curtin asked why there had been so many questions about the future ot the A.I.F. divisions. He was told that rumours were circulating that the A.l.r. would be so severed from General MacArthur’s command that there would be no Australian participation in the recapture of the Philippines. Mr. Curtin said that a variety of factors would contribute to the rescue of the Philippines. The Japanese must not lie told what particular types of forces they would have to oppose. The taet that some Australian divisions might not be lighting at the present time was of no particular significance. Sueh divisions might be getting ready for some further project. n c Asked whether post-war allocation of air bases in the southern Pacific had been discussed at the Empire Prime Ministers’ conference, Mr. Curtin said that no decision was reached. Civil aviation was onlv one of manj- aspects of postwar affairs which were discussed. Civil aviation was one of the subjects still under review. Aviation Conference. Asked whether the Australia-New Zealand proposal for international control of post-war international air trunkroutes was well received in London, Mr. Curl in said: “It was considered and a conference on a Ministerial level will take place shortly.” Though he could «not anticipate Cabinet's decision, he thought that Australia should be represented. Answering questions ou post-war migration, Mr. Curtin said the Empire Prime Ministers' conference made no decisions, though it "probably reached a state of mind on a number of matters.” He saw no evidence of a great number of. people being anxious to leave the United Kingdom after the war. Indeed, he found great pride and belief in the future of Great Britain. All the Australian papers today welcome the returning Prime Minister. “His welcome home will be warm and generous," says the “Sydney Morning Herald” editorially. “The confidence felt by all Australians, irrespective of party, that Mr. Curtin would do honour to his native country as its envoy in Britain and America has been abundantly justified”