WHITE AUSTRALIA

Hokitika Guardian, 18 August 1921, Page 3

WHITE AUSTRALIA

MAY CAUSE WAIL SYDNEY, August 6. In address before the members of the Public Questions Society of the Sydney University yesterday Brigadier-General Elliott expressed the opinion that war between Australia and Japan was practically inevitable. He predicted that l lie growing influence of labour in Great 'Britain made th ( . assistance of the mother country in defence of the ' White Australia, policy very uncertain j and he urged the need for organising the defence of the Commonwealth to prevent, aiul if accessory to meet an invasion. Japan, said General Elliott, was swarming with population. She had a mercantile fleet which was capable of transporting troops anywhere, and she had strongly opposed the white Australia policy. What would happen if th»*re were a famine In Japan? Could .Japan's fleet compel us to open up Australia to immigration of her people? With regard to possible support from Great Britain, it had to he remembered that the Labour troubles in England had brought about a great change in the outlook. The T/ilxmr party was getting a strong influence hi the Or vernnient, and if it obtained control in England he thought there would he distinct hostility to a white Australia. They must oofitcmplnte defence ( with the support of England, and (21 without such support. The Japanese were a proud and brave rare, hut they could not see the white Australia policy from our point of view. Australia tlie General continued, must be regarded as the future stronghold of the Anglo-Saxon race. Britain must have a decline sooner or later. Her natural resources were coming to an end. Canada was tendim--to become part and parcel of America an<l South Africa with her colour problems, gave no great field for immigration from Britain. Australia remained. “ We shall he called upon to meet an invasion from Japan if we do not o]>en cur doors to immigration,” continued General Elliott. "There will he war. and an attempted invasion. The Japan esc will first try to cut off our trade routes. Ami what is to stop them?” Although he had no official data, lie added, lie laid good reason to believe that Japan had 10 battleships superior to those of any other country. He recommended for the. defence of Australia the provision of adequate dockyards near Singapore. If we did not Imild them there Japan would. He also recommended the immediate provision of naval bases in Australia. It was essential to our safety to induce Britain to have an adequate fleet and naval bases, and until tliis was realised by Britain Australia must he prepared to face the possibility of an invasion. He had I curd on reliable authority that-if the Japanese landed here it. would take two j years to get them away from ottr shores, j Thus a two years’ defensive war would he necessary. To compete on equal terms it was necessary to have artillery and ammunition. "I know mi excellent authority,” said General Elliott, “that there is not sufficient artillery here to last two hours.” Our heaviest batteries, he proceeded, were 1.2 There was nothing that would withstand ike guns that would come J from an invade-. \Ye needed, its an Lem of our defence problems, the provision of heavy artillery and the estab-j ii-iiing ul key industries —chemical

works. Government arsenals were no good, as they would probably be no more effective than Cockatoo dockyard. The present divisional organisation of the military forces was quite unsuitable. Four complete staffs were performing the work originally and better performed by-one commandant and one staff.