PACIFIC PROBLEMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 November 1943, Page 3

PACIFIC PROBLEMS

CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH NEW ZEALAND DESIRED BY. AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT. SIGNIFICANT INDICATIONS. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, November 8, “The inescapable logic of war time events is bringing a new appreciation of the value of the Empire to an Australian Government whose personnel in its Opposition days had many isolationist tendencies,” declares the political correspondent of the “Sydney Morning Herald.” He lists as significant indications of this, Mr Curtin’s recent suggestion of a permanent Empire Council, followed by the appointments of Australian High Commissioners to New Zealand and India and by the negotiations which may result in the Duke of Gloucester becoming Australia’s new Governor-General. The firm official Australian belief is that the Empire must act in close concert after the war. It is recognised, for example, that the importance of Australia’s voice in Pacific affairs will be dependent on how far that voice is known to speak with the concurrence of the whole British Commonwealth of Nations. MR D’ALTON’S APPOINTMENT. Australia is deeply anxious to secure New Zealand’s closest colaboration on Pacific affairs and the Commonwealth’s first High Commissioner to New Zealand, the former Tasmanian deputyPremier, Mr D’Alton, has been appointed with this main end in view. The Government’s known eagerness to have the Duke of Gloucester as GovernorGeneral also springs largely from appreciation of the value of practical demonstration of Empire unity which this appointment would give to the nonBritish world. It would spectacularly symbolise Australia’s place in the British Commonwealth of Nations and would heavily underline the Empires role in the Pacific. This would be an important move in Imperial policy and would be construed as such by the other Pacific Governments with which Australia and New Zealand must cooperate in the post-war years. London messages report that the Australian High Commissioner, Mr Bruce, has already conveyed to the King Australia’s strong feeling that the Duke of Gloucester should take up the post for which his brother, the late Duke of Kent, was chosen before the war. Unofficial reports say that the Duke of Gloucester would welcome the appointment. FORCEFUL PERSONALITY. The Sydney “Telegraph’s” political correspondent gives a pen-picture of the man who will be an important instrument of Australia’s heightened Imperial policy, Thomas George De Largie D’Alton, first Commonwealth High Commissioner to New Zealand. He described Mr D’Alton as a “human pocket battleship — black-thatched, broadshouldered and gladiatorial in limbs. A grandfather at 48, he would pass for a tough heavy-weight of 40. Boilermaking in Tasmania before he took up politics strengthened his biceps and thighs. Back in 1913 he played Rugby Union under the guidance of the English star Blair Swannel, which ought to recommend him to New,Zealand Rugby fans.

“Mr Curtin, has had cause to remember Mr D’Alton. When the Prime Minister was battling with the Federal Australia Labour Party conference on his Militia Bill, Mr D’Alton saw the light, swung his Tasmanian delegation behind Mr Curtin, and helped to knock out the anti-conscriptionists. Cynics may construe the New Zealand . High Commissionership as a fitting reward, but Mr Curtin will expect results in this important appointment. “Australia and New Zealand, acting together on foreign policy, could make a big noise in peace and post-war talks. It is Mr D’Alton’s job to ensure that Australia and New Zealand think the same way.”