LABOUR-BAITING

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXV, Issue 254, 28 October 1942, Page 5

LABOUR-BAITING

U.S. WRITER CHARGED CRITICiSM OF AUSTRALIA HARD-HITTING REPLY RY DR EVATT.

P.A. Cable.

SYDNEY, Oct. 28.

"Never on any occasion has the Australian Government interfered in any way with General MacArthur's supreme command," declared the Attorney- General, Dr Evatt, in a spirited reply to Mr Hanson Baldwin. [The correspondent's article appears on Page 3 of this issue.] Mr Baldwin complained that the Australian War Cabinet and War Council had hampered General MacArthur, that Australian workmen were not pulling their weight, and that what had been done in Australia was entirely due to the United States. "Mr Baldwin's Labour-baiting comments on the Australian war effort are inaccurate and intemperate," said Dr Evatt. "He has never visited Australia; his sources of information are second-hand and seem to be confined to persons who, having failed in Australia, have returned to America, and to one or two Australian newspapers fast • becoming notorious for belittling everything the Curtin Government has done. No responsible authority who knows all the facts would concur in Mr Baldwin's criticisms, which are calculated to prejudice the already difficult task of General MacArthur's supreme command. "By almost common consent the war effort of the Australian people has been greatly accelerated and intensified by the Curtin Government during the past 12 months. To call this Government complacent is a false and reckless assertion. MacARTHUR IN SUPREME COMMAND.

"Mr Baldwin refers inaccurately to General MacArthur. He is in supreme command, and never on any occasion whatever has been subjected to any direction or control from the War Cabinet or the War Council. "In respect of military, naval and' air matters, the almost miraculous development in our construction of runways and roads is due entirqly to Australian workers under Australian direction. Admittedly difficulties have occurred in stevedoring and shipping, but these have been grossly exaggerated. On the whole the workers have done splendidly. "This belittling of Australia displays gross ingratitude. Australia. is most grateful to the United States for all that has been done, although Britain has also helped us greatly,

but the United States will be equally grateful for what this country has done in the cause of the United Nations — in nearly every theatre of war. "It is a great pity that a few American writers tend to impair the solidarity between the United States and Australian fighting forces, which is so evident in Australia and New Guinea."