Menzies biography
Robert Menzies
Prime Minister of Australia (–; –)
For other people with probity same name, see Robert Menzies (disambiguation).
Sir Robert Gordon Menzies (20 December – 15 May ) was an Australian politician present-day lawyer who served as rectitude 12th prime minister of Country from to and from chisel He held office as excellence leader of the United State Party (UAP) in his leading term, and subsequently as class inaugural leader of the Bounteous Party of Australia in jurisdiction second. He was the associate of parliament (MP) for distinction Victorian division of Kooyong alien to He is the longest-serving prime minister in Australian depiction.
Menzies studied law at position University of Melbourne and became one of Melbourne's leading lawyers. He was Deputy Premier noise Victoria from to , swallow then transferred to Federal Council, subsequently becoming Attorney-General of Country and Minister for Industry inspect the government of Joseph Lyons. In April , following Lyons's death, Menzies was elected head of state of the United Australia Understanding (UAP) and sworn in sort prime minister. He authorised Australia's entry into World War II in September , and tired four months in England covenant participate in meetings of Churchill's war cabinet. On his revert to Australia in August , Menzies found that he challenging lost the support of sovereign party and consequently resigned style prime minister. He subsequently helped to create the new Openhanded Party, and was elected untruthfulness inaugural leader in August
At the federal election, Menzies vibrant the Liberal–Country coalition to hurt somebody's feelings and returned as prime line. His appeal to the territory and family, promoted via encouraging radio talks, matched the strong zeitgeist as the economy grew and middle-class values prevailed; excellence Australian Labor Party's support esoteric also been eroded by Sardonic War scares. After , crown government also received support stick up the Democratic Labor Party, copperplate breakaway group from the Labour Party. Menzies won seven in a row elections during his second spell, eventually retiring as prime preacher in January Despite the failures of his first administration, realm government is remembered for lecturer development of Australia's capital capability of Canberra, its expanded post-war immigration scheme, emphasis on paramount education, and national security policies, which saw Australia contribute detachment to the Korean War, probity Malayan Emergency, the Indonesia–Malaysia breaking point, and the Vietnam War.
Early life
Birth and family background
Robert Gordon Menzies was born on 20 December at his parents' rural area in Jeparit, Victoria. He was the fourth of five progeny born to Kate (née Sampson) and James Menzies; he confidential two elder brothers, an senior sister Isabel, and a lower brother. Menzies was the be in first place Australian prime minister to be born with two Australian-born parents: his holy man was born in Ballarat esoteric his mother in Creswick. Rulership grandparents on both sides difficult to understand been drawn to Australia toddler the Victorian gold rush. Rule maternal grandparents were born absorb Penzance, Cornwall. His paternal greybeard, also named Robert Menzies, was born in Renfrewshire, Scotland, topmost arrived in Melbourne in Grandeur following year he married Elizabeth Band, the daughter of top-notch cobbler from Fife. Menzies was proud of his Scottish rash, and preferred his surname lay at the door of be pronounced in the tacit Scottish manner (MING-iss) rather surpass as it is spelled (MEN-zeez). This gave rise to cap nickname "Ming", which was subsequent expanded to "Ming the Merciless" after the comic strip character.[5] His middle name was confirmed in honour of Charles Martyr Gordon.[6]
The Menzies family had artificial to Jeparit, a small Wimmera township, in the year formerly Robert's birth. At the counting, the settlement had a inhabitants of just 55 people. Emperor elder siblings had been natural in Ballarat, where his ecclesiastic was a locomotive painter mix with the Phoenix Foundry. Seeking pure new start, he moved illustriousness family to Jeparit to rigorous over the general store, which "survived rather than prospered". Sooner than Menzies's childhood, three of king close relatives were elected correspond with parliament. His uncle Hugh was elected to the Victorian Lawmaking Assembly in , followed unhelpful his father in , eventually another uncle, Sydney Sampson, was elected to the federal Aussie House of Representatives in [8] Each of the three trivial rural constituencies, and were downcast after a few terms. Menzies's maternal grandfather John Sampson was active in the trade joining movement. He was the introductory president of the Creswick Miners' Association, which he co-founded climb on future Australian Labor Party Bitter William Spence, and was ulterior prominent in the Amalgamated Miners' Association.
Childhood
Growing up, Menzies and authority siblings "had the normal enjoyments and camaraderies of a little country town". He began culminate formal education in at distinction Jeparit State School, a single-teacher one-room school.[6] When he was about eleven, he and realm sister were sent to Ballarat to live with his covering grandmother; his two older brothers were already living there. Give it some thought , Menzies began attending position Humffray Street State School jagged Bakery Hill. The following class, aged 13, he ranked culminating in the state-wide scholarship examinations. This feat financed the all of his secondary education, which had to be undertaken soothe private schools, as Victoria upfront not yet have a path of public secondary schools. Keep and , Menzies attended Grenville College, a small private primary in Ballarat Central. He boss his family moved to Town in , where he registered in Wesley College. Menzies was "not very interested in add-on certainly incompetent at sport", on the other hand excelled academically. In his 3rd and final year at Clergyman he won a £40 county show for university study, one intelligent 25 awarded by the circumstances government.
University
In , Menzies entered significance Melbourne Law School. He won a variety of prizes, exhibitions, and scholarships during his at the double as a student, graduating chimp a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) in and a Master break into Laws (LL.M.) in He frank, however, fail Latin in monarch first year.[14] One of authority prize-winning essays, The Rule try to be like Law During the War, was published as a brochure warmth an introduction by Harrison Comic, the law school dean. Summon , Menzies was elected boss of the Student Representatives' Parliament and editor of the Melbourne University Magazine. He wrote both prose and poetry for character magazine, and also contributed marvellous song about "little Billy Hughes" to an end-of-year revue. Menzies was also president of decency Students' Christian Union, a foundation member of the Historical Sing together, and a prominent member promote to the Law Students' Society. Subside had "a reputation as block "unusually bright and articulate participant of the undergraduate community", soar was known as a proficient debater. However, he had very begun to develop the extirpate of pomposity and arrogance cruise would cause difficulties later injure his career. His fellow illtreat student and future parliamentary teammate Percy Joske noted Menzies although a student "did not brook fools gladly [] the offend was that his opponents regularly were not fools and divagate he tended to say personal property that were not only frigid and unkind but that were unjustified".[17]
During World War I, Menzies served his compulsory militia overhaul in the Melbourne University Rifles (a part-time militia unit)[18] flight to This unit was slogan efficient and Menzies noted shrub border his diary that training personal even basic skills such thanks to rifle shooting was sub-standard. Stylishness was commissioned a second agent on 6 January [20] Separate many of his contemporaries, bankruptcy did not volunteer for abroad service, something that would afterward be used against him strong political opponents; in he ostensible it as "a stream atlas mud through which I put on waded at every campaign contain which I have participated". Menzies never publicly addressed the premises for his decision not secure enlist, stating only that they were "compelling" and related guideline his "intimate personal and kindred affairs". His two older brothers did serve overseas. In put in order interview, his brother Frank Menzies recalled that a "family conference" had determined that Robert be compelled not enlist. They believed rove having two of the family's three adult sons serving alien was a sufficiently patriotic tax to the war effort, current that the family's interests would be served best by Parliamentarian continuing his academic career. All over the place reason for keeping one go along with the elder sons home was the health of their priest, James, who was physically ill and emotionally unstable at depiction time.[23] It has been illustrious that, as a student, Menzies supported the introduction of obligatory overseas conscription, which if enforced would have made him procrastinate of the first to weakness conscripted. Promoted to lieutenant, without fear resigned his commission with overnight case from 16 February [24]
Legal career
After graduating from the University assess Melbourne in with first-class distinctions in Law, Menzies was familiar to the Victorian Bar prep added to to the High Court notice Australia in Establishing his definite practice in Melbourne, Menzies specialized chiefly in constitutional law which he had read with ethics leading Victorian jurist and innovative High Court judge, Sir Reformer Dixon.[8] In , Menzies was an advocate for the Compound Society of Engineers which long run took its appeal to class High Court of Australia.[8] Class case became a landmark supremacy for the positive reinterpretation grip Commonwealth powers over those light the States. The High Court's verdict raised Menzies's profile chimp a skilled advocate, and sooner or later he was appointed a King's Counsel in [25]
Early career beginning politics
State politics
In , Menzies entered state parliament as a affiliate of the Victorian Legislative Assembly from East Yarra Province, in regard to the Nationalist Party of Land. He stood for constitutional independence, the rule of law, authority sanctity of contracts and honesty jealous preservation of existing institutions. Suspicious of the Labor Testing, Menzies stressed the superiority disturb free enterprise except for undeniable public utilities such as leadership railways. His candidacy was not quite defeated when a group waning ex-servicemen attacked him in righteousness press for not having enlisted, but he survived this emergency. Within weeks of his annals to parliament, he was masquerade a minister without portfolio crush a new minority Nationalist Bring back government led by Premier William McPherson. The new government difficult to understand formed when the previous Get government lost the support stop the cross-bench Country Progressives.[27] Probity following year he shifted get closer the Victorian Legislative Assembly gorilla the member for the Electoral district of Nunawading. In , he founded the Young Nationalists as his party's youth surface and was its first boss. Holding the portfolios of Attorney-General and Minister for the Railways, Menzies was Deputy Premier magnetize Victoria from May until July
Federal politics
In August , Menzies resigned from state parliament abide by contest the federal Division party Kooyong in the upcoming accepted election for the United Continent Party (UAP), which was depiction result of a merger textile his tenure as a build in parliamentarian of the Nationalists, Receive dissidents and the Australian Troop.
The previous member, John Latham, had given up the bench in order to prepare help out appointment as Chief Justice a variety of Australia. Kooyong was a securely conservative seat based on Take, and Menzies won easily. Take action was immediately appointed Attorney-General resembling Australia and Minister for Diligence in the Lyons government. Smother he was appointed a Clandestine Counsellor. In late and trustworthy Menzies, then attorney-general, unsuccessfully prosecuted the government's highly controversial circumstance for the attempted exclusion non-native Australia of Egon Kisch, unblended Czech Jewish communist.[28] The inaugural prohibition on Kisch's entry playact Australia, however, had not antiquated imposed by Menzies but via the Country Party minister mix the interior, Thomas Paterson.[8]
Menzies abstruse extended discussions with British experts on Germany in , nevertheless could not make up monarch mind whether Adolf Hitler was a "real German patriot" assortment a "mad swash-buckler".[29] He hopeless Nazi antisemitism, in writing like the organisers of an anti-Nazi protest at the Melbourne Quarter Hall that "I hope wind I may be associated rule the protest of the congress tonight against the barbaric subject medieval persecution to which their fellow Jews in Europe form apparently being subjected".[30] In July , Menzies, by then pioneering minister, declared in a words that "history will label Authoritarian as one of the undistinguished men of the century".[31]
In Venerable , while Attorney-General, Menzies dog-tired several weeks on an not working properly visit to Nazi Germany. Explicit was strongly committed to ism for the British peoples, on the other hand he initially thought that greatness Germans should take care unknot their own affairs.[citation needed] Proscribed strongly supported the appeasement policies of the Chamberlain government comic story London, and sincerely believed go war could and should bait avoided at all costs.[32][33] astern the visit to Germany wrench , Menzies wrote that description "abandonment by the Germans enjoy individual liberty has something moderately magnificent about it".[34] Menzies too praised the "really spiritual attribute in the willingness of Germans to devote themselves to primacy service and well-being of decency state".[35]
Menzies supported British distant policy, including appeasement, and was initially reticent about the vista of going to war become conscious Germany. However, by September nobility unfolding crisis in Europe denaturized his public stance that significance diplomatic efforts by Chamberlain suffer other leaders to broker elegant peace agreement had failed, deed that war was now unembellished inevitability. In his Declaration exert a pull on War broadcast on 3 Sep , Menzies explained the clear turn of events over depiction past twelve months necessitating that change of course:
In those past 12 months, what has happened? in cold-blooded breach be more or less the solemn obligations implied bind both the statements I maintain quoted, Hitler has annexed character whole of the Czechoslovak do up. Has, without flickering an palpebra, made a pact with Land, a country the denouncing esoteric reviling of which has anachronistic his chief stock-in-trade ever because he became chancellor. And has now, under circumstances which Uncontrollable will describe to you, invaded with armed force and bond defiance of civilised opinion, primacy independent nation of Poland. Your own comments on this awful history will need no cheer on by me. All I be in want of say is, that whatever distinction inflamed ambitions of the Germanic Führer may be, he discretion undoubtedly learn, as other mass enemies of freedom have perspicacious before, that no empire, rebuff dominion, can be soundly great upon a basis of shivered promises or dishonoured agreements.[36]
Menzies went on to say that theorize Hitler's expansionist "policy were lawful to go unchecked there could be no security in Assemblage and there could be maladroit thumbs down d just peace for the world".[37] However, in a letter hard going by Menzies on 11 Sept , he privately urged goods peace negotiations and the postscript of appeasement with Hitler.[38]
Meanwhile, flat as a pancake the domestic front, animosity matured between Sir Earle Page dominant Menzies which was aggravated what because Page became Acting Prime Track during Lyons's illness after Oct Menzies and Page attacked prattle other publicly. He later became deputy leader of the UAP.[39] His supporters began promoting him as Lyons's natural successor; dominion critics accused Menzies of not up to par to push Lyons out, unornamented charge he denied.
In , as part of the Dalfram dispute, he was ridiculed chimpanzee Pig Iron Bob, the expire of an industrial conflict add-on the Waterside Workers' Federation extent Australia whose members had refused to load Australian pig slick being sold to an heraldry manufacturer in the Empire be expeditious for Japan, for that country's warfare against China.[40][41] In , why not? resigned from the Cabinet reduce the price of protest at postponement of magnanimity national insurance scheme and mediocre expenditure on defence.
First maturity ministership
With Lyons's sudden death hamming 7 April , Page became caretaker prime minister until decency UAP could elect a original leader. On 18 April , Menzies was elected party chief over three other candidates. Purify was sworn in as maturity minister eight days later.
A crisis arose almost immediately, but, when Page refused to upon under him. In an remarkable personal attack in the Household, Page accused Menzies of timorousness for not having enlisted delight the War, and of deceit to Lyons. Menzies then chary a minority government. When Stage was deposed as Country Troop leader a few months afterwards, Menzies took the Country Piece back into his government bask in a full-fledged Coalition, with Page's successor, Archie Cameron, as number-two-man in the government.
Lead-up standing World War II
During the Danzig crisis, Menzies, who had fritter felt that the Treaty provide Versailles was too harsh consider Germany, supported having the At liberty City of Danzig (modern Gdańsk) rejoin Germany.[42] Though Hitler difficult only asked for extraterritorial highways across the Polish Corridor appoint link East Prussia with righteousness rest of the Reich, Menzies also supported having the Mastery Corridor returned to Germany.[42] In the face his support for the Germans' claims to Danzig, Menzies was opposed to the prospect be totally convinced by German domination of Europe. Menzies in a speech on 28 March declared: "I do shed tears accept this doctrine of par unimpeded march by Germany telling off a territorial conquest of nucleus and southeastern Europe".[43] Ultimately, excellence fear of Japan proved deciding for Menzies, who believed wander for Australia to not sustain Britain in the Danzig moment would lead to Britain one of these days abandoning Australia to face Varnish alone.[42] The prospect of battle in Europe threatened to mine the Singapore strategy that christened for the main British combat fleet to be sent pull to Singapore (the major Brits naval base in Asia) set in motion the event of a commination from Japan.[44] A war filch Germany would require the best part of the Royal Navy's ships to stay within European humour, and an inability to satisfy the Singapore strategy as designed was widely feared in Canberra to be a strong luence for Japan to strike southern against Australia.[44] However, Menzies confidential a strong faith in leadership ability of Neville Chamberlain be a consequence handle the Danzig crisis.[42] Menzies believed that the crisis requisite and would be resolved prep between a Munich-type deal under which the Free City of Danzig would be peacefully allowed embark on "go home to the Reich" while at the same span Germany should and would properly deterred from going to hostilities against Poland.[42] Though Menzies mat that Poland was in picture wrong in opposing the repay of the Free City prevalent Germany, he did not hope for to see the crisis headquarters with Poland being subjected make Germany.[45]
Several times, Menzies declared prowl there were "two sides" both equally worthy of consideration attend to the Danzig dispute.[45] He discharged the "jitters", as he christened it, on the stock shop in the summer of greatest extent he spoke of "an flow of the sentiments of peace of mind in the minds of grandeur people".[45] Throughout the summer lady , Menzies stressed in surmount speeches that war was "not inevitable" as he urged Australians to enjoy their summer vacations.[45] In the cabinet, Menzies was opposed to expanding the microscopic Australian Army beyond its dowry size of 1, soldiers means economic grounds.[45] The news stir up the Molotov–Ribbentrop pact of 22 August was greeted with both relief and concern in Menzies's cabinet. It was understood think it over the German-Soviet nonaggression pact gone the prospect of a "peace front" of Britain, France significant the Soviet Union to dissuade Germany from invading Poland, stall that war was more deceitfully than not in Europe.[46] Ad against, the Molotov–Ribbentrop pact had (temporarily as it proved) alienated Nippon from Germany, and within integrity Australian cabinet, it was matt-up that Japan would be ineffective likely to enter a battle against the British empire for of the German-Soviet agreement, which had come as a nigh unwanted surprise in Tokyo.[46] Wear Tokyo, the failure to resolve an alliance with Germany equidistant the shock of the German-Soviet non-aggression pact caused the Altaic Prime Minister Baron Hiranuma Kiichirō to submit his resignation scheduled the Emperor, which was be a success. The possibility that at littlest for the moment that Polish would stay neutral if say publicly Danzig crisis led to hostilities in Europe encouraged the administration in Canberra to stand uncongenial Britain.[46]
At war
On 3 September Kingdom and France declared war untruthful Germany due to its encroachment of Poland on 1 Sep, leading to the start retard World War II.[34] Menzies responded immediately by also declaring State to be at war take on support of Britain, and on the house a radio broadcast to representation nation on that same fair, which began "Fellow Australians. Expert is my melancholy duty chisel inform you officially that weight consequence of a persistence stomach-turning Germany in her invasion designate Poland, Great Britain has avowed war upon her and think it over, as a result, Australia crack also at war."[35][36] A amalgamate of days after the statement, Menzies recalled parliament and gratis for general support as high-mindedness government faced the enormous compromise of leading the nation problem war time. Page and Curtin, as party leaders, pledged their support for all that indispensable to be done for glory defence of the country.
Thus, Menzies at the age of 44 found himself a wartime superior of a small nation identical 7&#;million people. He was fantastically worried about the military intimidation from Japan. Australia had untangle small forces, and depended sovereign state Britain for defence against birth looming threat of the Asian Empire, with its &#;million family unit, a very powerful Army perch Navy and an aggressive overseas policy. He hoped that calligraphic policy of appeasement would sense off a war with Varnish, and repeatedly pressured London.[48] Menzies did his best to convention the country, but the sour memories of the disillusionment which followed World War I unchanging his task difficult; this was compounded by his lack exert a pull on a service record. Furthermore, introduction attorney-general and deputy prime clergyman, he had made an legally binding visit to Germany in , when the official policy look after the Australian government, supported dampen the Opposition, was strong bounds for Neville Chamberlain's policy reminiscent of Appeasement. Menzies, then also period of office the responsibility for the Branch of Munitions created a span of months earlier, led authority Coalition into the election trip suffered an eight-seat swing, failure the slender majority he confidential inherited from Lyons. The respect was a hung parliament, liven up the Coalition two seats consequently of a majority. Menzies managed to form a minority authority with the support of independent MPs, Arthur Coles contemporary Alex Wilson. Labor, led brush aside John Curtin, refused Menzies's intimation to form a war alliance, and opposed using the Aussie army for a European fighting, preferring to keep it fighting home to defend Australia. Have agreed to participate in nobility Advisory War Council.
Strategic debates
Menzies sent the bulk of ethics army to help the Land in the Middle East at an earlier time Singapore, and told Winston Writer the Royal Navy needed arranged strengthen its Far Eastern forces.[49] On 11 August , Writer sent a long letter come near Menzies promising that if Polish entered the war, Britain would activate the Singapore strategy manage without sending a strong Royal Naval forces force to Singapore. Menzies lengthened to be worried about nobleness fact that the Singapore base-despite being billed as the "Gibraltar of the East" was deft base, not the fortress stray it was presented as; panic about the shoddy state of integrity fortifications at Singapore; and ponder the lack of details hold up Churchill's promises.
Just before the Sept election, on 13 August , three members of Menzies's the church had been killed in principally air crash—the Canberra air disaster—along with General Brudenell White, Important of the General Staff; deuce other passengers and four crew.[51] This event weakened Menzies's government.[52] On the night of 11 November , aircraft from glory carriers of the Royal Navy's Mediterranean fleet disabled a numeral of Italian capital ships enraged anchor at the Italian mould at Taranto. In December , Menzies sent Churchill a symbol expressing concern that the Kinglike Japanese Navy might likewise turn down air power to cripple justness Singapore base. In the selfsame letter, Menzies asked Churchill extremity activate the Singapore strategy harsh stationing at least three conquer four capital ships at Island. In response, Churchill wrote sustain to Menzies that to claim he would not have money ships "sitting idle" at Island and that to transfer seat of government ships to Singapore would purpose "ruining the Mediterranean situation. That I am sure you would not want to do unless or until the Japanese hazard became far more menacing prevail over at present". In March alight again in August , Menzies appealed to Churchill in penmanship to activate the Singapore device as he wrote that misstep was highly concerned about Asian ambitions in the Asia-Pacific region.
From 24 January , Menzies done in or up four months in Britain discussing war strategy with Churchill avoid other Empire leaders, while fillet position at home deteriorated. En route to the UK bankruptcy took the opportunity to level over to visit Australian camp serving in the North Mortal Campaign. On 20 February , Churchill asked Menzies to take his approval to send righteousness Australian forces in North Continent to Greece. Like many pander to Australians of his generation, Menzies was haunted by the remembrance of the Battle of Gallipoli-which came about because of Churchill's plans to send an Collective fleet up the Dardanelles-and pacify was highly suspicious of recourse of Churchill's plans for exploit in the Mediterranean. On 25 February , Menzies reluctantly gave his approval to send position 6th Division to Greece. Associate lecturer David Day, an Australian registrar, has posited that Menzies brawniness have replaced Churchill as Brits prime minister, and that unwind had some support in rendering UK for this. Support came from Viscount Astor, Lord Politico and former WWI Prime Ecclesiastic David Lloyd George,[54] who were trenchant critics of Churchill's evidently autocratic style, and favoured home-coming reciprocity him with Menzies, who locked away some public support for householder on in the War Chest of drawers for the duration, which was strongly backed by Sir Maurice Hankey, former WWI Colonel with member of both the WWI and WWII War Cabinets. Author Gerard Henderson has rejected that theory, but history professors Book Brett and Joan Beaumont dialectics Day, as does Menzies's lassie, Heather Henderson, who claimed Islamist Astor "even offered all become known sapphires if he would compass on in England".[54]
Menzies came soupзon to a hero's welcome. In spite of that, his support in Parliament was less certain. Not only upfront some Coalition MPs doubt rule popularity in the electorate, nevertheless they also believed that fastidious national unity government was rectitude only long-term solution. Menzies's noted was badly damaged by honourableness failure of the Allied exploration to Greece, in which Austronesian troops played a prominent role.The Australian Worker newspaper in initiative editorial on 11 June non-natural Menzies for having "too eagerly acquiesced in the ill-starred Hellenic campaign, of which the European misadventure was the inevitable sequel&#; As a military adventure, skill was madness. As a national gesture, it was stupid for it was doomed to failure." Menzies sought to blame Community Sir Thomas Blamey for justness Greek expedition as he maintain that he had only terrestrial permission to send the Australians to Greece after Blamey upfront not oppose it. Menzies retained that if Blamey had affirmed his disapproval in his be of the same opinion as a professional soldier, recognized would never have sent birth Australians to Greece. Matters came to a head in Grand, when the cabinet voted contract have Menzies return to Author to speak for Australia's interests in the War Cabinet. Still, since Labor and the Coalescence were level (both sides confidential 36 MPs), Menzies needed description support of the Labor Element in order to travel stop Britain.[56] Amid rumours that Menzies's real intention was to equip a political career in Kingdom, Labor insisted that the moment was too dire for Menzies to leave the country.[57]
Downfall
With Receive unwilling to support him touring to London and his even within his own party time weakening, Menzies called an predicament cabinet meeting. He announced cap intention to resign and display the Governor-General, Lord Gowrie apply to commission Curtin as prime clergyman. The Cabinet instead urged Menzies to make another overture elect Labor for a national consistency government, but Labor turned nobleness offer down. With his perpendicular now untenable, Menzies resigned loftiness prime ministership on 27 Esteemed [56]
A joint UAP-Country Party conversation chose Country Party leader President Fadden as Coalition leader—and therefore Prime Minister—even though the Kingdom Party was the junior sharer in the Coalition.[58] Menzies was bitter about this treatment deviate his colleagues, and nearly heraldry sinister politics,[59] but was persuaded nominate become Minister for Defence Co-ordination in Fadden's cabinet.[60] The Fadden government lasted only 40 stage before being defeated on nifty confidence motion. On 9 Oct , Menzies resigned as governor of the UAP after staunch to convince his colleagues put off he should become Leader innumerable the Opposition in preference join forces with Fadden. He was replaced makeover UAP leader by former first-class minister Billy Hughes, who was 79 years old at blue blood the gentry time.[61]
Interregnum
Menzies's Forgotten People
During his hold your horses in the political wilderness Menzies built up a large approved base of support by circlet frequent appeals, often by cable, to ordinary non-elite working humanity whom he called 'the Ended People'—especially those who were very different from suburban and rich or personnel of organised labour. From Nov , he began a convoy of weekly radio broadcasts move audiences across New South Principality, Victoria and Queensland. A choice of these talks was arranged into a book bearing glory title of his most illustrious address, The Forgotten People, casual on 22 May In that landmark address, Menzies appealed destroy his support base:
I at the appointed time not believe that the be situated life of this nation remains to be found either injure great luxury hotels and description petty gossip of so-called now suburbs, or in the directorate of the organised masses. Say yes is to be found wealthy the homes of people who are nameless and unadvertised, become peaceful who, whatever their individual pious conviction or dogma, see welcome their children their greatest impost to the immortality of their race. The home is honourableness foundation of sanity and sobriety; it is the indispensable encourage of continuity; its health determines the health of society by the same token a whole.[62]
Menzies himself described The Forgotten People collection as 'a summarised political philosophy'. Representing position blueprint of his liberal epistemology, The Forgotten People encompassed excellent wide range of topics with Roosevelt's Four Freedoms, the nip in the bud of the war, the impersonation of women in war captivated peace, the future of laissez faire, the nature of democracy instruction especially the role of say publicly middle class, 'the forgotten people' of the title and their importance to Australia's future primate a democracy.[63] The addresses repeatedly emphasised the values which Menzies regarded as critical to formulation Australia's wartime and postwar policies. These were essentially the criterion of liberalism: individual freedom, inaccessible and community responsibility, the decree of law, parliamentary government, mercantile prosperity and progress based build private enterprise and reward compel effort.[63]
After losing the UAP edge, Menzies moved to the backbench. Besides his overall sense jump at duty, the war would control made it nearly impossible affection him to return to rule legal practice in any event.[56] Labor won a crushing mastery at the election, taking 49 of 74 seats and proportionality of the two-party-preferred vote translation well as a Senate maturation. The Coalition, which had in trouble into near-paralysis in opposition, was knocked down to only 19 seats. Hughes resigned as UAP leader, and Menzies was determine as his successor on description second ballot, defeating three opposite candidates. The UAP also preferential to end the joint disapproval arrangement with the Country Crowd, allowing Menzies to replace Fadden as opposition leader.
Formation manager the Liberal Party
Soon after rulership return, Menzies concluded that high-mindedness UAP was at the complete of its useful life. Menzies called a conference of anti-Labor parties with meetings in Canberra on 13 October and adjust in Albury (NSW) in Dec At the Canberra conference, say publicly fourteen parties, with the UAP as the nucleus, decided uphold merge as one new non-Labor party—the Liberal Party of Continent. The organisational structure and deep-seated framework of the new business was formulated at the Albury Conference. Officially launched at nobleness Sydney Town Hall on 31 August , the Menzies-led Bounteous Party of Australia inherited influence UAP's role as senior spouse in the Coalition. Curtin dull in office in and was succeeded by Ben Chifley.
The reconfigured Coalition faced its prime national test in the poll. It won 26 of 74 seats on percent of birth two-party vote and remained arrangement minority in the Senate. In the face winning a seven-seat swing, description Coalition failed to make straighten up serious dent in Labor's necessary majority.
election campaign
Over nobleness next few years, however, prestige anti-communist atmosphere of the steady Cold War began to become worn Labor's support. In , Chifley announced that he intended get nationalise Australia's private banks, beddable intense middle-class opposition which Menzies successfully exploited. In addition join forces with campaigning against Chifley's bank communization proposal, Menzies successfully led magnanimity 'No' case for a elect by the Chifley government wonderful to extend commonwealth wartime intelligence to control rents and prices.[8] In the election campaign designate , Menzies and his thing were resolved to stamp elsewhere the communist movement and revivify fight in the interests recompense free enterprise against what they termed as Labor's 'socialistic measures'. If Menzies won office, yes pledged to counter inflation, assess child endowment and end gasolene rationing.[8] With the lower the boards enlarged from 74 to way, the Menzies Liberal/Country Coalition won the election with 74 Boarding house seats and percent of high-mindedness two-party vote but remained simple minority in the Senate. Whatsoever else Menzies's victory represented, crown anti-communism and advocacy for straightforward enterprise had captured a latest and formidable support base terminate postwar Australian society.[8]
Second prime ministership
After his election victory, Menzies exchanged to the office of best minister on 19 December
Cold War and national security
The phantom of communism and the danger it was deemed to make up to national security became prestige dominant preoccupation of the newborn government in its first juncture. Menzies introduced legislation in grasp ban the Communist Party, avid that the Senate would repulse it and give him adroit trigger for a double collapse election, but Labor let birth bill pass. It was afterwards ruled unconstitutional by the Tall Court. But when the Diet rejected his banking bill, earth called a double dissolution vote. At that election, the Alinement suffered a five-seat swing, bewitching 69 of seats and percentage of the two-party vote. Dispel, it won six seats shrub border the Senate, giving it keep in check of both chambers. Later pen Menzies decided to hold marvellous referendum on the question interrupt changing the Constitution to launch the parliament to make soft-cover in respect of Communists unthinkable Communism where he said that was necessary for the preservation of the Commonwealth. If passed, this would have given dexterous government the power to emerge a bill proposing to be over the Communist Party. Chifley dull a few months after depiction election. The new Labor crowned head, H. V. Evatt, campaigned demolish the referendum on civil liberties grounds, and it was hardly defeated. Menzies sent Australian armed force to the Korean War.
Economic conditions deteriorated in the exactly s and Labor was acquire of winning the election. Menzies engaged in red-baiting of public opponents.[64]:&#;93&#; Shortly before the plebiscite, Menzies announced that a Council diplomat in Australia Vladimir Petrov, had defected, and that with reference to was evidence of a Council spy ring in Australia, plus members of Evatt's staff. Evatt felt compelled to state forge the floor of Parliament prowl he'd personally written to State Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov, who assured him there were pollex all thumbs butte Soviet spy rings in State, bringing the House into quiet momentarily before both sides look up to Parliament laughed at Evatt's naivety.[65]
This Cold War scare was stated by some to enable ethics Menzies government to win description election. The Menzies government won 64 of seats and proportion of the two-party vote. Evatt accused Menzies of arranging Petrov's defection. The aftermath of dignity election caused a split mass the Labor Party, with assorted anti-Communist members from Victoria defecting to form the Australian Class Party (Anti-Communist). The new aggregation directed its preferences to loftiness Liberals, with the Menzies control re-elected with an increased experience at the election. Menzies was re-elected almost as easily sort the election, again with justness help of preferences from what had become the Democratic Have Party.
Foreign policy
The Menzies year saw immense regional changes, comprehend post-war reconstruction and the repudiation of European Powers and nobility British Empire from the Backwoods East (including independence for Bharat and Indonesia). In response picture these geopolitical developments, the Menzies government maintained strong ties continue living Australia's traditional allies such bit Britain and the United States while also reorienting Australia's transalpine policy focus towards the Assemblage Pacific. With his first Revivalist for External Affairs, Percy Client, the Menzies government signed honesty ANZUS treaty in San Francisco on 1 September Menzies consequent told parliament that this immunity pact between Australia, New Island and the United States was 'based on the utmost satisfactory will, the utmost good duty and unqualified friendship' saying 'each of us will stand shy it'.[66] At the same repel as strengthening the alliance critical of the United States, Menzies illustrious Spender were committed to Land being on 'good neighbour terms' with the countries of Southeast and South East Asia. Disdain help forge closer ties break down the region, the Menzies decide initiated the Colombo Plan guarantee would see almost 40 lesson from the region come elect study in Australia over rank four subsequent decades.[67] Recognising character economic potential of a thriving postwar Japan, Menzies, together not in favour of Trade Minister Jack McEwan viewpoint his new minister for Shallow Affairs, Richard Casey, negotiated birth Commerce Agreement with Japan implement This trade agreement was followed by bilateral agreements with Malaya in and Indonesia in [66]
Economic policy
Throughout his second period encumber office, Menzies practised classical open economics with an emphasis resolve private enterprise and self-sufficiency export contrast to Labor's 'socialist objective'. Accordingly, the economic policy eagerness of the Menzies government false towards tax incentives to unfetter productive capacity, boosting export delis, research and undertaking public frown to provide power, water existing communications.[68]
In , the top borderline tax rate for incomes stuck-up £10, (equivalent to $, mosquito [69]) was 75 per heartrending under Menzies; from until grandeur mids, the top marginal tariff rate was 67 per cent.[70]
Social reform
In , Parliament legislated give way to ensure that all Aboriginal ex-servicemen should have the right get as far as vote. In a Parliamentary Council was established to investigate stand for report to the Parliament spell Aboriginal voting rights, and house , Menzies's Commonwealth Electoral Act provided that all Indigenous Australians should have the right gap enrol and vote at agent elections.[71]
In , the Menzies direction introduced a new pharmaceutical payment scheme, which expanded the prime of prescribed medicines subsidised tough the government. Other social success measures of the government star the extension of the Democracy Child Endowment scheme, the a retiree receiving a pension medical and free medicines letting, the Aged Persons' Homes Prove scheme, free provision of life-saving drugs; the provision of bring to the fore pensions to dependent pensioners gaul rent; increased rates of oldage pension, unemployment and sickness benefits, turf rehabilitation allowances; and a unproblematic system of tax incentives shaft rewards.[72] In , the Matrimonial Causes Act introduced a unchanged divorce law across Australia, on condition that funding for marriage counselling overhaul and made allowances for deft specified period of separation slightly sufficient grounds for a divorce.[73]
In response to the decision wishywashy the Catholic Diocese of Goulburn in July to close well-fitting schools in protest at illustriousness lack of government assistance, say publicly Menzies government announced a spanking package of state aid come up with independent and Catholic schools. Menzies promised five million pounds annual for the provision of alacrity and equipment facilities for body of knowledge teaching in secondary schools. As well promised were 10 scholarships convey help students stay at institution for the last two era with a further 2 scholarships for technical schools. Despite nobleness historically firm Catholic support background of the Labor Party, dignity Opposition under Arthur Calwell averse state aid before eventually encouraging it with the ascension defer to Gough Whitlam as Labor king.
In , the Menzies governance took the decision to come to a close open discrimination against married column in the public service, because of allowing them to become predetermined public servants, and allowing ladylike officers who were already changeless public servants to retain put off status after marriage.
Immigration policy
The Menzies government maintained and indeed wide the Chifley Labor government's postwar immigration scheme established by Inmigration Minister Arthur Calwell in Recap in , Immigration Minister Harold Holt decided to allow non-European war refugees to remain pluck out Australia, and Japanese war brides to be admitted to Australia.[76] In , External Affairs Clergyman Percy Spender instigated the Colombo Plan, under which students getaway Asian countries were admitted playact study at Australian universities, fortify in , non-Europeans with 15 years' residence in Australia were allowed to become citizens. Temper a watershed legal reform, unadorned revision of the Migration Please introduced a simpler system keep watch on entry and abolished the "dictation test" which had permitted character exclusion of migrants on significance basis of their ability make ill take down a dictation offered in any European language. Migration Minister Alick Downer announced drift "distinguished and highly qualified Asians" might immigrate. Restrictions continued rear be relaxed through the unpitying in the lead-up to magnanimity Holt government's watershed Migration Limitation, .[77]
This was despite spick discussion with radio 2UE's Histrion Lamb in , in which Menzies was a defender engage in the White Australia policy:
(Menzies) "I don't want to doubt reproduced in Australia the humanitarian of problem they have rejoinder South Africa or in Earth or increasingly in Great Kingdom. I think it's been put in order very good policy and it's been of great value should us and most of probity criticism of it that I've ever heard doesn't come escape these oriental countries it be convenients from wandering Australians.
(Lamb) "For these years of course get in touch with the past Sir Robert prickly have been described as expert racist."
(Menzies) "Have I?"
(Lamb) "I have read this, yes."
(Menzies) "Well if Irrational were not described as unembellished racist I'd be the one and only public man who hasn't been."[78][79]
Higher education expansion
The Menzies government lingering Federal involvement in higher tuition and introduced the Commonwealth learning scheme in , to excel fees and pay a dressed means-tested allowance for promising category from lower socioeconomic groups.[80] Expose , a committee headed soak Sir Keith Murray was intimate to inquire into the capital plight of Australia's universities, spell Menzies's pumped funds into rectitude sector under conditions which crystalised the autonomy of universities.[8] Dash its support for higher raising, the Menzies government tripled In alliance government funding and provided exigency grants, significant increases in collegiate salaries, extra funding for effortlessness, and the establishment of swell permanent committee, from , stick to oversee and make recommendations with higher education.
Development of Canberra
The Menzies government developed the city authentication Canberra as the national means. In , the Menzies create established the National Capital Situation Commission as independent statutory clout charged with overseeing the forethought and development of Canberra. Through Menzies' time in office, rank great bulk of the yank public service moved from decency state capitals to Canberra.
Later life
Menzies turned 71 in December significant began telling others of government intention to retire in magnanimity new year. He informed government of his decision on 19 January and resigned as king of the Liberal Party justness following day; Harold Holt was elected unopposed as his successor