Mre Perry Spender, " Australian war Minister, who arrived here December 24° with Lieutenant-Gen. Vernon Hobart Sturdee, Australian Chief of Staff of the Army, for Iniportant military conferences, dedo newspaperman "our desire is or the three rear nations facing 'The Australian Wor Minister said the European war brought the United 'States and Australia closer as shown by' the exchange of ministers between the two countries.
"ta sign of & desire for peace in the Paelfie,-of. Spender continued, 'Australia "sent Sir John Lathan, us Minister to' Japan.
He declared that Auiltratia con siders "Singapore vite as the link of Empire communications, stressing that "Australia always stands. with the Empire.
"There had been and always wit be complete understanding on this point, Mr. Spender pointed out. said Australia contributed greatly toward British Empire do-fence by assuring her own defence and by Placing herself on 1 full war footing with minimum disturbance. Australia, besides, is enlisting 130,000 men for overseas service, is provide {ing 30,000 men for the Empire alr scheme, and has laid the foundations '0f a home army of 200,000, he further pointed out. Mr, Spender stated that 150,000 will be engaged in munitions production by spring—Domel,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.