SEVENTY PERCENT POSSIBLE LIBERAL-C.P. SUPPORT FOR RHODESIA

"The Prime Minister, Mr. Gorton, yesterday flatly rejected a suggestion from his own back-bench that Australia should consider withdrawing from the United Nations . . . Mr. Gorton's remarks came after a long and, at times, emotional attack on the inconsistencies and double standards of the UN. It was prompted by Cabinet's decision to respect UN sanctions against the breakaway regime in Rhodesia - a decision which has split the Government down the middle" - The Australian, September 12.

Last week's events, when Government members violently attacked the United Nations, and trenchantly criticised the decision to support the Security Council demand for total sanctions against Rhodesia, constitutes the healthiest political development in Australia for a decade or more. Ministers of the Government have been hard put to defend policies so obviously two-faced, completely hypocritical, and undoubtly imposed out of sheer fear of Big Brother in international politics.

In a most revealing statement, Mr. Bowen, Federal Attorney-General showed clearly how "Australia's policy towards Rhodesia is dictated by fear and expediency, and not by morality or justice. He openly admitted the Government was pursuing a double standard in international politics. Indicating the Government's fear of Big Brother, Mr. Bowen said Australia would certainly lose international standing if it failed to comply with the UN wishes. Evidently the pious resolution on Czechoslovakia passed unanimously by Parliament against the U.S.S.R. was just a lot of claptrap.

Taken beyond words and transformed into actions, such as sanctions similar to those imposed upon Rhodesia, Australia would fear the consequences of a reaction from UN. It is time the Australian Government honestly faced the question of just what are the consequences of supporting a double standard in our foreign policy.
It means we align ourselves with forces of evil in the hope that we will escape with a whole skin.

We are endeavouring to build our future welfare on a foundation that is rotten, and are prepared to sacrifice others, Rhodesians and Czechs, in an endeavour to maintain our security.
Immorality, in whatever sphere it is practised, ends in disaster. It is to be hoped the strong voices in the backbenches will yet be heard in those places where the decisions are made.

BOOK OF THE MOMENT

NEW THREAT OF FORCE AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA

"Delegates at a two-week United Nations seminar on racial discrimination have warned of the possible need to end apartheid in South Africa by force. Delegates from thirty countries attended the seminar. The seminar Chairman, Dr. A. Krishnaswamy, said there was a feeling of exasperation over measures to deal with apartheid. It was 'an atmosphere of hopelessness that there is no course open except the use of force', he said" - The Herald, (Melbourne), September 11.

It would be instructive to learn whether Australia was represented at the Indian Seminar, and what views were expressed. The campaign against South Africa has got nothing whatever to do with any alleged injustice inside South Africa. It is a Communist-inspired campaign through the UN to further one of the Soviet strategists' main global objectives: the destruction of Civilised government in Southern Africa, this to be followed by control of the international waterway around the Cape of Good Hope. Every objective observer who has been to South Africa agrees that the South African Government is making a constructive approach to a very complex question by developing a programme of separate development in which the African can advance according to his own ability.
Africans from South Africa's North still press on the borders in an attempt to enter what is called "the police state". There is no exodus Northwards.
The Bantu in South Africa is not prepared to exchange his situation with that of the Ibos in Nigeria. And he does not want a Congo.

Dr. Krishnaswamy is reported as having said at the Seminar in New Delhi that U Thant, Secretary-General of the UN, should be urged to appoint a new body of experts to investigate the situation in South Africa, and to offer constructive suggestions for ending apartheid".
If Dr. Krishnaswamy is so concerned about injustice in the world, he could better direct his attention to what is happening inside other countries. But his own country only recently refused to support at the Security Council of the UN even a verbal condemnation of the Soviet policy in Czechoslovakia.

The persistence and virulence of the international campaign against Southern Africa indicates the importance, which the Soviet strategists attach to this target area. They are, of course, assisted by large numbers of well-meaning dupes of false misleading propaganda. Australia's national self-interest demands that it refuses to support in any way the worldwide campaign against Southern Africa.

RHODESIA DEBATES A NEW CONSTITUTION

"Now that Lord Graham has resigned as External Affairs Minister, and 74 members of the Salisbury Central constituency party have resigned from the Front, there is some doubt that Mr. Smith can hold out for long" - Noel Hawken reporting from London in The Sun, (Melbourne), September 14.

Speculation is rife amongst Rhodesia's critics over the latest developments in the debate now taking place on Rhodesia's new constitution. Division within the Rhodesian Front party has been caused by differences of opinion as to whether Rhodesia can construct a genuine multi-racial state with advancement based upon merit and not colour, or whether separate institutions for whites and blacks be instigated. The differences of opinion and the premises they are based upon are too complex to be commented upon here, but what is of obvious interest, is the fact that Rhodesia is demonstrating again to her critics that no such thing as a police state exists there. Debate is open and honest. Ministers can disagree without being thrown into goal. The opposition can openly criticise the Government without fear of reprisal, and all can enter into the debate, white and black.
It is not exactly the picture of a police state, oppressing any opposition that arises, and so constituting a threat to world peace, and so warrants combined action by all those "paragons of virtue" in the UN who impose sanctions upon her.
The truth is Rhodesia upholds the essential traditions of parliamentary democracy and responsible government.

AUSTRALIAN STATES IN REVOLT

"The current exercises in financial brinkmanship between the State Premiers and the Commonwealth Government seems to be approaching a crisis. Tasmania and South Australia have decided to impose turnover taxes; the NSW Premier (Mr. Askin) has foreshadowed sharp increases. Victoria has . . . new receipt tax for several months - The Age, (Melbourne), September 16.

There is a parallel in the revolt of the backbenchers over Rhodesia and the revolt of the State Premiers against the Federal Government's financial policies. Both are a revolt against irresponsibility and injustice. Sir Henry Bolte, the Victorian Premier, even accused the Federal Government of making Victoria "the Rhodesia of Australia". To carry the analogy further he said, "We've been threatened with economic sanctions if we don't lift the State wages tax by 1970."

The Prime Minister, Mr. Gorton, has just completed a nation wide tour. Evidently sensitive to the criticism coming from the Premiers he said, "First I am an Australian . . . There must be an over-riding feeling for the nation as a whole".
This type of argument is often put forward by those who wish sections of the Australian community to make sacrifices, which they consider are for the good of the community as a whole.

Mr. Gorton spoke as a Utopian planner removed from the cares and realities of mere parochial politicians who are concerned with realities and problems in their own back yard. It is the correction of those problems in everyone's backyard, which goes to make a strong nation. But the problem being posed by both the State and Federal spokesmen is not essentially confined to access to physical resources. The argument is over the availability of finance to cope with physical problems.

The political realities are that the Federal Government has the power to control financial policy. The States will have to challenge that power before they achieve the justice they desire. Mr. Askin pointed to the only realistic path for State Governments when he threatened to withdraw the support of State Liberals from Federal Liberals unless they obtained financial justice for NSW.
Mr. McMahon the Federal Treasurer immediately reacted by sending a letter to all Liberal Federal M.P.'s in NSW.

If every State Premier emulated Mr. Askin's action and maintained a continuous attack on the Federal monopoly, it could lead to a resurgence of genuine Federalism and a decrease of State Socialism as practiced by the Federal Government.

CONGRATULATIONS TO MR. WILLIAM FORSYTH

"The Australian Ambassador in Beirut, Mr. William Forsyth, snubbed a Soviet diplomat at a party earlier this week. Mr. Forsyth confirmed today that he had refused to shake hands with the Soviet Ambassador, Mr. Peter Dedouchkin, on Monday. 'I feel very strongly about events in Czechoslovakia and it was done on an impulse' Mr. Forsyth said", - The Australian, September 16.

A very healthy and natural impulse too. It is a pity the Australian Government does not emulate Mr. Forsyth by refusing to allow Soviet ships the use of our harbours, or to trade in our wool, using ships which have come direct from Haiphong after unloading military supplies to be used by the Viet-Cong against our troops fighting in Vietnam.
While we pass resolutions in Parliament which mean nothing unless backed by action, we sanction the visit of Russian Trade Union delegations and the Russian Moseyev Dancers, funds from which no doubt go to help the local Communist Party pursue its subversive actions within our country, and indirectly help finance aggression in Czechoslovakia, Vietnam and elsewhere. Not only do we encourage such activities but also we discourage those who would protest against Communist exploitation of the arts.

The Melbourne Herald, September 17, reports the police in Adelaide stopping New Australian Organisations from handing out pamphlets outside the theatre where the Moseyev Dancers were performing. It is hoped that Australians will boycott these performances so they run at a loss.

MORE SOCIALISM FROM MR. WHITLAM

"The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Whitlam, yesterday urged the organising of comprehensive school dental care. Proper dental care was a luxury beyond many Australians, he said" - The Sun, (Melbourne), September 14.

As a socialist it is natural that Mr. Whitlam should advocate measures, which place the individual more and more under the control of the state apparatus. However when he says that proper dental care is a luxury at the moment, and that this luxury can be made available to all Australian children through the Government organising dental treatment through the schools, he does not deal with fundamental causes. As the Government takes more and more of the individual's income, and it is further eroded by the Government's inflationary financial policies, fewer people can afford it.