Mr. Spender Goes To Washington

THE appointment by Australia of her Minister for External Affairs and External Territories (Mr. P. C.

Spender) to be Australian Ambassador in Washington is of importance to all the peoples of the Pacifiic Islands. We have no future, here in the South Pacific, unless we are under the protection of the United States. Of all the men in sight, there is no one more able or better qualified than Mr. Spender to promote a sound and friendly relation ship between the South Pacific countries, and the Americans.

Naturally, there has been grumbling in Papua-New Guinea. Those Territories had an unhappy experience under the Socialist Minister Ward and the class conscious Administration he set up; and, when Australia threw out its Pink Gov ernment, and Papua-New Guinea was handed over to the care of Mr. Spender, and Mr. Spender went through those frustrated tropical lands like an in vigorating breeze, promising quick changes and better political health the rerritorians expected far-reaching re forms and sound progress. And, if the statement of policy which Mr. Spender made in June last had any meaning at all, they had every reason to expect the encouragement of private enterprise, de centralisation of administrative authority, a more realistic outlook regarding the use D L native labour, a voice in their own tmtion anC * s *' rong anc * vigorous adminis- As a matter of cold fact, they have had few, if any of those things. A few people have been encouraged to make Plans for the establishment of industries, a few have been given permits to cut coastal timber, District Officers have had cneir titles changed to District Commis sioners; but that is about all. There is one same maddening delay in getting decisions from Port Moresby and Can

berra; the same sense of futility and frustration among senior officials; the same pampering of natives; and a total absence of anything resembling local ad visory boards or legislative council, where local interests might voice their wishes and submit their grievances. Is it any wonder that, in recent weeks, the average resident of Papua-New Guinea speaks with derision of the Spender Policy and is completely cynical *tfien discussing PNG administration affairs!

No one knows whether the failure to implement the Spender policy, and the abandonment of the Territories to the tender mercies of Port Moresby and Can berra bureaucrats, has been due to de liberate sabotage of the Policy by en trenched officialdom, or was the result of Mr. Spender’s deep preoccupation with foreign affairs. Probably, we suffered under a combination of the two. It cer tainly appeared that, after his long ab sence abroad in the latter part of 1950, Mr. Spender lost all active interest in the Territories.

THE decision made by the Australian Prime Minister, early in 1950, that External Affairs and External Terri tories should be in the hands of one man, seemed sound at the time. Inter national relations are in contact with the Pacific Territories at many points.

But experienced Territorians did not like the arrangement; and their fears were justified.

In the present condition of the world, foreign affairs are of paramount im portance; and it proved in practice that they demanded all the thought and energy of Mr. Spender—who probably is the best External Affairs Minister Australia ever had. But that meant that he literally did not have time for Terri tories affairs, and the Territories have suffered accordingly.

Mr. John Howse, MP, Mr. Spender’s Ministerial assistant, did a good job. He impressed everyone as a man of ability, who was quite sincere in his wish to im plement the Spender Policy and bring about worth-while reforms in the Terri tories. But, since he had been given neither Ministerial authority nor a charter for ruthlessness, he could be expected to burst through the rolls of bureaucratic red tape with which he was quickly enwrapped.

Since the departure of Mr. Spender was announced, requests that the Terri tories portfolio be not coupled with any other important portfolio have reached the Prime Minister from many places; and. probably, they will be acceded to.

But the prospect is not good. There are far too few outstanding men avail able for inclusion in the Australian Ministry. Every man of ability and strength is wanted by Mr. Menzies for jobs of greater importance than that of Territories Minister. It looks as if Terri tories will either have to share a first class Minister with some other Depart ment, or must accept as Minister some inconspicuous individual who will have neither the brains nor the strength to stand up to the bureaucrats, and give the Territories what the Territories need.

One suggestion that is sure to receive consideration is that Mr. Menzies him self should hold the portfolio, and dele gate most of the work connected there with to an Assistant Minister. There is nothing at all conspicuous among the older men; but there are some very able Members, of outstanding promise, among those recently elected, and maybe a suit able Assistant Minister can be found there.

The situation is affected, of course, by the probability of an early general elec tion.

WHILE Mr. Menzies has been reluc tant to part with one of his most able Ministers, it is likely that Mr.

Spender, in Washington, will give to

Australia and to the Pacific Territories generally, more distinguished service than he would find possible in any other sphere.

Mr, Spender is completely a realist concerning (a) the threat that a Red Asia soon may spill over into these Pacific countries, and (b) the present weakness of the United Kingdom. He knows the harm that the Socialist Attlee Government has done to the British Empire; last year, in London, he personally saw the ineptitude and muddling of the pitiful little men who are trying to handle the Empire’s affairs. As a staunch Empire man, and one who believes in British character and British

traditions, he is confident that British prestige will be restored in the Pacific, as in the rest of the world. But, in the meantime, our destiny seems to lie with the United States, and our fate is bound up with what the Americans are trying to do to restore peace, sanity and order liness to this tortured world; and it is in that belief that Mr. Spender goes to Washington, The future of mankind lies in the hands of the English-speaking race; and Mr. Spender, as Australia’s representa tive, may do a great deal in forming closer relations between the now powerful United States and what we still hope may be a re-vitalised Britain and British Empire.