NO WEAKENING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 December 1941, Page 4

NO WEAKENING

OF AUSTRALIA’S TIES WITH BRITAIN

FEDERAL PRIME MINISTER’S STATEMENT. MR MENZIES ON THE OUTLOOK. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 1.20 p.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The Federal Premier (Mr J. W. Curtin) said nothing in his statement (reported in an earlier cablegram) was to be taken as meaning a weakening of Australia’s ties with the British Empire. Austra - - lia’s nexus with America Was that of a military alliance made necessary by geographical considerations. I An important cablegram from Mr Churchill to Mr Curtin will be considered by the War Cabinet tomorrow. The “Telegraph” says America has submitted to Australia, through Mr Churchill, a new plan to build up the Commonwealth’s defences and to help her to take a bigger part in the Pacific war. National security regulations, have been made legalising the billeting in Australia of* troops of foreign Allied powers. “Although Australia’s danger has never been greater, we are nearer to victory than at any time since the war began,” said the former Federal Premier (Mr R. G. Menzies). He added that it was almost certain that Australia would suffer actual physical attack. “We would be very foolish indeed- if we thought that whistling shells or bombs ' will remain unknown in the streets of Sydney,” he observed. Mr Menzies said he did not believe a full partnership between Britain and the United States could be defeated by any combination of powers in the world.