Mr. Menzies' Home-Coming
On his return from a world-tour of supreme importance the Australian Prime Minister appears to have made a profound effect on the audience which heard his stirring speech at Sydney last Monday. With the knowledge of one who has visited the Middle Eastern theatre of war, who has shared the secrets of the Cabinet at Westminster, and talked with President Roosevelt in America, Mr. Menzies described the life-and-death issues at stake for Australia and the world, and the need for a united effort in his own country. In his view it is not enough that all parties in the State should believe in the cause and support the war effort ; a National Govern- ment resting on all parties, as in Britain, would in his opinion be the best instrument for applying the whole resources of Australia to the war effort. It happens that the political parties are so nearly equal in numbers that the loss of a single seat would have destroyed the Government's majority in the House of Representatives; and Mr. Curtin, the Opposition leader, was within his rights in suggesting that a Labour Government ought to be formed if Labour won the Boothby by-election. As it happens the election was a resounding victory for a Government candidate standing on the necessity of a National Government. Mr. Menzies represents a policy which far transcends any question of party, but it is for the Labour Party to decide in what way it thinks it can best serve the national effort. Mr. Curtin has put it beyond all doubt that there is national unity on the supreme issue; the Labour Party has pledged and given all; but his present view is that it can best serve the public interest outside the Government..
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