Manus, Tng?
p. 56 · Read in the full issue
Should Usa Have A Base At
WHEN he was asked about a report that the United States wished to retain a base at Manus (Admiralty Islands, New Guinea), the Australian Minister for External Affairs gave an evasive answer. He said that Manus was included in the New Guinea Territory, over which Australia holds a League of Nations mandate; and all future arrange ments and relationships affecting this place had still to be defined under the United Nations Charter.
One Labour member pointed out that Manus has one of the best harbours in the South-West Pacific, and Australian Labour would be much annoyed if it was handed over to the United States.
The Minister said nothing.
How short is the memory of these poor little people! America built the new base at Manus—as it built many other South- West Pacific bases—and it is less than three years since these Australian poli ticians were running around in circles, thanking their high gods for the power and the proximity of the United States forces.