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Keon-Mullens
work for
Menzies Govt?
The Keon Mullens group is making a bold
attempt to win leadership of the Federal
Labor Party.
A LTBOUGH they have lost ground
A- in the last few weeks, they have
not renounced their goal.
Representing the extreme rightriog
section, which have as their
special organisation the Industrial
Groups, the Keon Mullens section is
fighting on a clearly defined policy.
Where does this group want to
lead the ALP and the Australian
people? The question is of cardinal
A brief glance at some of "their"
statements and actions provide an
answer to this question.
4 They attacked Attlee for his
oodwill visit to China-
Mullens carried his attack to the
oint of rudeness, refusing to attend
he ALP banquet to the British
abor leader.
Keon only changed his mind
he last minute.
Opposed Evatt
0 They opposed Dr. Evatt's apearance
at the Petrov Commission.
A At the Melbourne sittings of
he Commission, Keon was seen in
lose conversation with secret politial
police chief Spry.
ft Bourke, one of the group, in
he budget debate, said that the preent
old age pension of £3/10/- was
uite adequate. ~
Daring the Federal elections he
had publicly disagreed with the
Means Test policy announced by Dr.
at
Evatt, and his statements became
ammunition for the Liberal Party.
* The Federal election results in
Victoria, where the Keon Mullens
group are in control, robbed the ALP
of outright victory.
* Keon and Mullens boycotted the
1951 Referendum Campaign against
the Communist Dissolution Act.
The resemblance between these
and the policy of the Menzies Government
is dear. Equally clear is
^eAmericaE-Government
must look on them with a favorable
eye.
Where does this lead?
What Is
the positive policy of this group if
positive it can be called?
Three conclusions are inescapable,
and they dovetail in with the Keon
Mullens actions.
"Teeth" in Pact
If there is not to be peaceful coexistence
with People's China and
the Soviet Union, there must be war.
RAF Marshal Sir John Slessor said
last Monday that British and American
aircraft capable of delivering atom
and hydrogen bombs would be the
"teeth' r of SEATO.
Likewise, they are the "teeth" of
Keon Mullens policy.
The suppression of all opposition
to war and its burdens is an essential
part of this policy. Unjust, imperialist
war goes hand in hand with
fascism.
Budgets must be freed from such
items as pensions so that they eft"
be devoted to war.
In the light of this, It is not
surprising that many Labor men
are voicing the suspicion that one
of Menzies* motives in his hfjihy
of the Petrov affair was to clear
the decks for this cUiwm rightwing
group to wrest control of the
Federal ALP.
Whether this be true or not, it is
certain that Menzies' pro-American
warmongering policy would be strengthened
if the Keon Mullens group
were in control of the Federal ALP.
Paid informers
Another aspect of the internecine
strife within the ALP was given an
outing last week, after Dr. Evatt had
reported to Caucus on the Petrov
Commission.
The capitalist press ran a highly
colored report of the meeting, which
Dr. Evatt denounced as false.
He alleged that the report originated
from "paid informers."
It is noteworthy that the press
did not attempt to justify its report,
or reveal the source of its information.
Br. Evatt's allegation Is a serious
one indeed.
Are there paid informers in Caucus
who give information to the
anti-Labor press? If so, who are
they?
A Labor Party united on a progressive
policy of peace and social advance
is necessary to Australian development.
Any force working against this is
harmful, and should be placed outside
Labor's ranks.
$