ALLEGED SLACKNESS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 August 1942, Page 5

ALLEGED SLACKNESS

IN DIRECTION OF WAR IN NEW GUINEA CRITICISM OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. BY MEMBER OF OPPOSITION EXECUTIVE. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, July 31. An accusation that the Australian Government had permitted the Japanese to march unmolested from Buna toward Port Moresby has been madeby a member of the executive of the Federal Opposition, Mr J. P. Abbott, in a special statement following o meeting of the executive. Mr Abbott was Minister for Home Security inthe Menzies and Fadden Governments. “Not only for the preservation of Australia, but also to assist the common war effort, the Japanese must be thrown out of Papua, and progressively the campaign should be waged from island to island,” he said. “The islands of the south-west Pacific should be the Achilles heel of the Axis.” Russia and China were in a desperate position, Mr Abbott continued. Though Russia had not yet been attacked by Japan, there was no doubt that when Hitler ordered an attack the full might of Japan would be thrown against the Soviet forces in Siberia. If China was to be saved, as saved she must be, the pressure against her must be relieved. The relief could come in only one way a vigorous, sustained effort in the southwest Pacific. “The Commonwealth Government will not be defending Australia adequately, nor will the enemy be conquered so long as we are prepared passively to sit down and leave the initiative to the enemy and allow Japan to decide when and where she will strike next,” said Mr Abbott. A meeting of . the War Advisory Council was held following the meeting of the executive. It is known to be J the view of the Government that, as all matters of high war policy are put before the Council, on which the Opposition has representation, both sides of Parliament are fully committed by the Advisory War Council’s decisions on policy. Mattei’s of administration do not come under the Council’s jurisdiction.