'An emphatic denial that his speech tothe "Foreign. Press. Association meant' adoption of 2. policy of ab~ Pensement towards "Japan of that Bis"vlew conflted "in any. way With those of the Australian War Kavisory" Council was given by the Australian Prime Minister, Mr. RG. Menzies, today, "at it suggested anything I said denies the existence in the Pacific of factors which give rise to inter~ ational difieulties all I can say, fg that T never denied it, "The essence of what I said this matter is that when you find position which has in it the pos sibilities of trouble it. is far better to muke a tranly positive approach to the question than low it to Geile therefore, Timede it clear that "Australia sil pursues a policy fof peace in the Pacific, but that at the same time she {8 thoroughly determined to take every possible step to protect herself against war, "Tam not an advocate, of a policy of appeasement or anything remotely resembling it. We are determined to'defend our vital interests with all believe is every absolute cor the force at our disposal. I do not
tainty of war until it happens, but I may have some shrewd ideas, When nations have shrewd ideas they get busy preparing their own aefences,"—Reuter, Mr. Curtin Comments Canberra, Mar, 6 Mr, John Curtin, Leader of the Australian Labour 'Party, said that peace in the Pacific meant that the countries. in the Pacific should be freed from aggression, but once aggression was on the move, who would be so bold or foolish as' to hug and cherish "the illusion that whatever might be the fate of others he himself "Australia desires peace in the [Pacific most heartily. We shall be /glad to make treaties and. more glad 'Commenting on this statement, the Australian Prime Minister, Mr, sfenzies, said in London' ods; welcome this "statement by Mr. Curtin: it, in fact, reproduces quite precisely the substance of made by me in London'
"Very Tale"
Tokyo, Mar. 5.
Japanese political elreles tod: point out that Japan's attitude to-Wards "Australia manifestly concurs with the views expressed recently by Me. Menzies, Australian—Prime Minister, 1p ils speech in London, otherwise the Japanese Government Would not have sent Mr. Kawai as Minister fo Canberra.
The recent friendly exchange between Mr. Kawai and the officials in Canberra is also recalled.
'Meanwhile, the official Government spokesman, commenting on Mr. Men-said: "This time we un 'Resisaia ts' being' very" tole separatist movement within the British Empire. Tt would be a great blunder if any' country thought that this was 30," he declared.
Because Japan had made an agree. ment with the Axis Powers, Austra. Mans should not permit themselves willy-nilly to" drift, into an atmosphere with Japan which was at Toast dubious, and which was at least and might, quite frankly, be dangerous.
"Don't: let us grope around in the ark in that kind of fog," Mr. Menzies continued. Don't let us become vic~ tims of that most pernicious of all habits—the habit of believing in the Inevitability of a conflet. 1 do not believe, except in the case which ha come upon us in Europe, where Burelar has been thrown out of, the house, that there is no such a thing the inevitability of a conflict, or dimieulty which is incapable of being resolved by the cultivation of International relations of utmost frankness. Consequently we appear to forget that we are a grown-up people, and a grown-up people do not tronnd the world striking each other ina gingerly way, If they have any differences of view they ventilate them. Tt is for this reason that in Australia wehave established a now tradition by establishing direct diplomatic representation in Tokyo.
British Unity intmen* of Australian road is no subtraction total British "diplomatic power, "Mr. Menzies continued, "at is designed to add to the strong thread of the British fabric. No Australian, New Zealander, Canadian, oF South "African, in fact nobody who calls himself British, hay the light. fest doubt that his security depends fssentilly on the security" of Great Britain, "It is no miracle that the Dominions are fighting today. No {intelligent person in' any of the Dominions has the slightest doubt that his part in the world would be nothing if the centre of the British Empire was struck, The British people in all parts of the Empire are resolved that while they stand Britain will not fall" Mr. Menzies declared,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.