London, Mar, 5.
An emphatic denial that his speech to the Foreign Press Association meant adoption of a policy of apeasement towards Japan or that this view conflicted in any way with those of the Australian War Advisory Council was given by the Australian Prime Minister, Mr. R. G, Menzies, today, "If it suggested anything I said denies the existence in the Pacific of factors which give rise to international difficulties all I can say is that I never denied it, "The sence of what I said on this matter is that when you find position which has in it the posbilities of trouble it is far better to make a frank, positive approach to the question than to allow it to drift. Therefore, I made it clear that Australia still pursues a policy of peace in the Pacific, but that at the same time she is thoroughly determined to take every possible step to protect herself against war, "I am not an advocate of a policy of appeasement or anything remotely resembling it. We are determined to defend our vital interests with all the force at our disposal, I do not believe there is every absolute certainty 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, 5.
Mr, John Curtin, Leader of. fhà 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 was immune?
"Australia. desires peace in the Pacific most heartily. We shall be glad to make treaties and more glad to witness deeds," he declared, Commenting on this statement, the Australian Prime Minister, Mr, R, G. Menzies, said in London today: 1 welcome this statement by Mf. Curtin: it, in-fact, reproduces quite precisely the substance of statements made by me in London."—Reuter, "Very Fair"
Tokyo, Mar. 5.
Japanese political circles today point out that Japan's attitude to. wi s manifestly concurs xpressed recently by Menzies, Australian Prime Minister, in his speech in London, otherwise the Japanese Government would not have sent Mr. Kawai as Minister to Canberra.
The recent friendly exchange between Mr.
Kawai and the officials iti Canberra is also recalled.
Meanwhile, the official Government spokesman, commenting on Mr. Men: zies' speech, said: "This time we think Australia is being very fair.
—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.