ATTACKS BY JAPAN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 March 1942, Page 3

ATTACKS BY JAPAN

ON INDIA & AUSTRALIA ANTICIPATED BY DR. EVATT. NEED OF SPEEDY ACTION BY ALLIES. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, March 29. He believed Japan intended to attack both India and Australia and to do so at once, said Dr., Evatt, Australian Minister of External Affairs, in Washington today. It was essential for the United Nations to organise all their resources and manpower as speedily as possible, said Dr. Evatt. Otherwise victory might be long delayed. Experts were deliberating as to whether Japan would attack India or Australia. It seemed plain enough that Japan would attack both. In- any event it would be only common sense to be prepared to hold the enemy in both places and so pass as quickly as possible to the offensive. Plans must be executed ruthlessly and every obstructionist or proven failure must get out of the way, declared Dr Evatt in a speech at the overseas writers’ dinner, which was attended by the country’s leading political writers, editors and members of Cabinet. Dr Evatt said Australia wanted, in addition to the Pacific front, a-common council established in Washington to enable the Commonwealth to make a more effective contribution to the common cause. He emphasised that when. Australia .sought the right of consultation on a proper footing with the United States, ■it did not run counter to the established principles on which the British Commonwealth of Nations was constituted. “We are not interested in formulas; we must have action, concerted, planned action,” he said. Decisions must be made quickly, and followed up energetically right down the line to the point of physical contact with the enemy. Decisions must be made which affect not only the particular area but the whole world. The establishment of a war council may not mean success, but the absence of such a council may not mean success, but the absence of such a council may cause further failure and frustration. Any Allied country that fights Japan in Australia will only be doing what Australia has already done almost everywhere in the world. We are greatly heartened by General MacArthur’s appointment. We say ‘Give him the tools and he will finish the job.’ ”