from Labor Forward ‘ Keep the Bomb out of Australia -— Let Labour lead the struggle. \
The continuing silence of the A.L.P. Federal Caucus on. the Menzies Government's announcement that, under circumstances judged suitable by themselves \ they will open Australian territory for the establishment of American nuclear ba bases is permitting the capitalists to commit Australia to possible nuclear destr— uction, In the last issue of Labor Forward we pointed out the growing dissatisfaction of the Japanese at the presence of bases in their country. {re noticed that other countries justifiably objected to being made inevitable targets in the case of war. We pointed out that faced with growing hostility, the U.S. would look around for safer bases, where they had political stooges and the masses were less aroused to the danger of the bases. We thought that Australia would measure favourably in the U.S. war preparations, Less than a week later Sir Garfield Barwick confirmed the truth of what we said.
The deciding factor for the United States will be whether or not the Australian people can be considered reliable, that is, if we will acquiesce without protest to being shoved in the front lines, ready to commit nuclear suicide, That three sections of a Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament have been recently set up (Melbourne, Sydney, and University of Sydney) would indicate that some public support has already been mobilised to keep nuclear bases out of Australia.
The argument that Disarmament movements in Japan and Ingland have achieved their success because of already existing n gdear bases, and that the bases will have to be established in Australia before public is provoked, under— estimates significant developments in both Australian and world public opinion. The possibility of senseless annihilation, the danger of continued nuclear testing is realised by more and more people. Disarmament movements have recently. begun to grow in many countries (including the U.S. itself).
The chances for immediate success in Australia, are greater at present than most countries: we don't have to get rid of nuclear weapons, just keep them out. The Sydney C.N.D. has adopted three aims. These are limited only to Austr- ‘alia, and are limited ennugh to appeal to people regardless of political conviction. C.N.D. defines its purpose as to press the Federal Government to adopt the following aimss
(1) Australia will refuse to posses, manufacture or use nuclear weapons;
(2) Australia will refuse its territory for the use by other nations
as nuclear bases3
(3) Australia will refuse, also, the use of Australian—administered
territory. for nuclear tests or nuclear bases, and withhold assistance
or approval of any nuclear tests anywhere,
That the Liberal Government will never accept this policy is accepted by the C.N.D. who believe that if a large enough group of Australian people accept this policy, Australia would not be considered reliable in American eyes, 2nd nuclear weapons would not be brought into the country,
Labor should place itself at the head of this movement, and take up the fight for Australia's freedom from that kind of 'protection! that the reactionary U.S. extends to all its nuclear bases: internal interference and complete domination of external policy, committing us without qualification to full participation in the capitalist cold war, and to share the fate of the U.S, in the event of war. Should this be permitted to happen the fate of the Australian Labor movement is clear. The A.L.P. must protoct the people from the possibility of nuclear destruction and mst protect Australia from complete American domination.
Any refusal by tho A.L.P. to placo itsolf at tho head of the struggle may well mean that the development will take place outside it. In other countries where political leaders. have sought to placate capitalist foars in advance by ignoring disarmament movements among the massos, they have not prevented these disarmamont movements growing, and have not evon kept them out of their own parties, N.B. Labor Forward is a left wing Australian Labor Party journal.