The following report is from International, organ of the Australian Section of the Fourth International, of 15th July: id. Note.
In the recent session of Federal Parliament, the Menzies Government assed a rogulation giving the United States Government the right to establish a se at xmouth Gulf, Western Australia, for submarine communications, By this .ction the Government makes very real the threat of having Australia turned into nuclear base and invites this country's annihilation as a No.1 target area, This proposed base is more than a nuclear base. Rather it is to be the nerve centre and control headquarters of 2a whole chain of nuclear weapon carriers. Under its diroction will be the submarines, each carrying 16 Polaris missiles.
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By use of a low frequency range, transmitted signals can be received by submarines operating at groat depths and the Polaris submarines do not have to surface to fire their deadly missiles. The transmitted signals tell the submarines where to go and enables them to accuretely fix their position, necessary if their missiles are to reach their target hundreds of miles away.
There is no question that the Menzies Government is obedient to the dictates of U.S. imperialism. Of great importance to the Australian people is the development of Labor Party policy on nuclear weapons and related questions, since Labor speaks for the great mass of the workers and is the present governmental alternative to Menzies and Co. On May 9, the ixecutive of the Federal Parliamentary took a big step forward in its declaration that the [jovernment: _
"should assure the United Nations that Australia, in its desires to make the Southern Hemisphere a nuclear-free zone, will renounce nuclear tests, stock piling and bases on Australian soil."
When the recommendation came before the Federal Labor Party caucus it was referred to the Federal Uxecutive of the Party for determination. Then a speech by the Federal Parliamentary Labour Party leader, Mr. A Calwell showed he was taking an attitude in opposition to unqualified repudiation of any moves to make Australia a base for testing and stock piling.
Before the end of May the Labor Council of New South Wales by resolution called for Southern Hemisphere nations to meet in conference with the object of ablishing a nuclear-free Southern Hemisphere and, significantly, rejected the Commonvealth Government's refusal to give to the United Nations an undertaking not to acquire nuclear weapons, or to allow such weapons in its territories on behalf of other countries - and rejected the policy of the Government endorsing a resumption of nuclear tests.
Next came the Annual Conference of the two biggest Branches of the A.Lp. Now South Wales and Victoria, on June 2-4, At the New South “ales Conference disc-— ussion of these vital issues was prevented although the platform made it clear that officers would oppose any unilateral repudiation of nuclear weapons by Australia, After a long debate the Victorian Branch Conference resolved by a large majority in favour of the Southern Hemisphere being made a nuclear-free zone and also accepted an amendment by Dr. J. Cairns, M.P., that Australia should undertake not to allow the conduct of nuclear tests nor the establishment of nuclear bases and stockpiles on Australian soli.
Mr. G. Bryant, Mi.P., in support said that Australia should be prepared to take the leadership in the world to ban nuclear weapons. On 23rd June the State axecutive of tho N.S.W. Branch assured the function of the recently-concluded ruling body, the Annual Conference, and set out its attitude in a resolution rejecting the principle of unilateral nuclear disamanment as "impracticable". On July 4, tho Federal iixecutive set out a somewhat ambigious position which is the authoritative declaration until the Federal Conference set dowm for Iiay 1963. It set down as am objective the establishment of the Southern Hemisphere as a nuclear-free zone, much to the chagrin of the capitalist press and other arms of reaction such as the D.L.P. (the so-called Democratic Labor Party - a right wing catholic action break away from the A.L.P.: iid. Note).
While endorsing the above mentioned speech of Mr. Calwell, it stated that the various propositions considered by the Parliamentary Party ixecutive were, by awl large, embraced by policy approved by succeeding conferences since 1955 and that the documents considered by the Parjiamentary Party could have been combined. Included in these propositions was the ono renouncing nuclear tests, stock-piling and bases on Australian soil.
dstralian Labor Party struggle.....continued/ f / ‘hile an addition proposed by the Victorian Branch delegates, Messrs. J.V. Stout and R. Brebner, for unconditional banning of the weapon was defeated, it will be appreciated that no declaration of opposition to a unilatecralist position was written into the Federal .ixecutive declaration,
Thus the struggle proceeds to rally mass support for the position of the Victorian Branch with the perspective of securing a Federal Conference stand next lay declaring for unilateral action by Australia. New South “ales items for ¢.onference Agenda are to be in the hands of the N.S.W. Brancb Secretary by 24th October 1962. This is a matter of life or doath for the Australian people and the Labor Party left wing carries a heavy responsibility.
A meeting to re-establish a Youth for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmanent group in Nottingham on Monday 13th August was attended by over 20 people. A provisional committee was elected and future activities discussed. These ares coffee bar (the managernient of this coffee bar have since given permission), public meetings every Sunday evening in the Old Market Square, fortnightly educational meetings.
The proposal to establish the Y.C.N.D. coffee club (perhaps the best substitute for a Left Coffee Bar) was met with enthusiasm by a sizable contigent of young workers who promised to bring down their mates from work and youth clu»s, such a mecting place will provide an excellent opportunity for the Young Sociaiisis to turn up, sell Young Guards, and recruit people into the Labour Party. ‘Such a meeting place will also allow us to sow the ideological seeds of a schism within the Y.C.L. which is supporting the new group.
It is essontial that our comrades in the Young Socialists should give serious,active, support to this new group, a benefit not accorded to previous Y.C.N.D. groups. Support involves not merely lip-service, and marching in 0.N.D,. denonstrations, but helping in canvassing, serving on their committees and giving an urgently needed ideological lead at meetings. We should aim to gain their respect so that they turn to us for a lead when problems arise. ‘Should we do this I am sure we can persuade them that work in the Labour Party is the answer to their ever~increasing bewilderment at the impotence of C.N.D..