Australias changing relationships during

World War II
When Britain declared war on Germany on 3 September 1939, Australian Prime Minister
Robert Menzies (19391941) followed with this announcement to the Australian people.
Source 1: Prime Minister Robert Menzies, 3 September 1939
Fellow Australians, it is my melancholy duty to inform you officially, that in
consequence of persistence by Germany in her invasion of Poland, Great Britain has
declared war upon her and that, as a result, Australia is also at war.
Prime Minister Robert Menzies speech, 3 September 1939 (Department of Veterans Affairs)
http://www.ww2australia.gov.au/wardeclared

On 7 December 1941, Japan bombed the US naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The next
day the new Prime Minister John Curtin (19411945) made the following announcement.
Source 2: Prime Minister John Curtin, 8 December 1941
Men and women of Australia, we are at war with Japan. That has happened because,
in the first instance, Japanese naval and air forces launched an unprovoked attack on
British and United States territory; because our vital interests are imperilled and
because the rights of free people in the whole pacific are assailed. As a result, the
Australian Government this afternoon took the necessary steps which will mean that a
state of war exists between Australia and Japan. Tomorrow, in common with the
United Kingdom, the United States of America and the Netherlands East Indies
Governments, the Australian Government will formally and solemnly declare the state
of war it has striven so sincerely and strenuously to avoid.
Prime Minister John Curtin, 8 December 1941 (National Film and Sound Archive)
http://aso.gov.au/titles/radio/curtin-japan-second-world-war/clip1/

Refer to Sources 1 and 2

1

What reasons are given by Menzies as to why Australia is at war with Germany?

What reasons are given by Curtin as to why Australia is at war with Japan?

How are these reasons similar? Different?

What relationship between Australia and Britain is revealed in Source 1? Explain.

What relationship between Australia, Britain and the USA is revealed in Source 2?
Explain.

In both 1914 and 1939, Australia had gone to war as a direct consequence of Britains
declaration of war. In 1941, the Curtin government decided to make a separate declaration of
war (see Source 2). This was a distinct break from the past: Australia had always relied on
the Mother Country to make such important foreign policy decisions. Within weeks of this
ground-breaking decision, Curtin made another historic announcement.

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Source 3: Prime Minister John Curtin, 27 December 1941

Without any inhibitions of any kind, I make it quite clear that Australia looks to America,
free of any pangs as to our traditional links to our kinship with the United Kingdom.
We know the problems that the United Kingdom faces. We know the constant threat of
invasion. We know the dangers of dispersal of strength, but we know too, that Australia
can go, and Britain can still hold on.
We are therefore determined that Australia shall exert all our energies toward the
shaping of a plan, with the United States as its keystone, which will give to our country
some confidence of being able to hold out until the tide of battle swings against the
enemy.
Prime Minister John Curtin, 27 December 1941, The Herald, Melbourne, Victoria.
1.
2.
3.

Inhibitions: the state of being constrained, held back

Pang: a sudden feeling of mental or emotional distress or longing
Kinship: connection by blood, marriage, or adoption; family relationship

Refer to Source 3
With which of the following statements would Curtin have agreed? Support your decision with
evidence from the source.
a)

Australia must continue to look to Britain for protection.

b)

Britain, while facing problems, can survive the war without Australias help.

c)

The United States is Australias new Pacific ally.

d)

Australia is going to be defeated by Japan because the United Kingdom is having

problems.

e)

Australia has guilt feelings about abandoning Britain during the war.

f)

With the help of the United States, Australia will defeat Japan.

g)

Australia is going to continue to support Britain in the war against Germany.

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Source 4: A cartoonists view of Australias changing foreign relations

Source E13 A cartoonists depiction of events in World War II in Hoepper, B et.al. 1996, Inquiry 1, John Wiley &
Sons Australia, Ltd, Qld (p. 370) Used with permission

Refer to Source 4
Conduct a three-pronged analysis of the cartoon.
1

Content: What is happening in the cartoon? Here you need to study all elements of the
cartoon, particularly the figures. Note their size, stance, expressions and actions and any
symbols associated with them.

Context: What is happening at the time that this cartoon was drawn? (i.e. What is the
historical background?) To help you answer this question, refer to Source 3.

Comment: What is the cartoonists view of each of the figures and the situation the
cartoon depicts? Explain your interpretation with reference to specific parts of the
cartoon. Based on your knowledge so far, how historically accurate is the cartoonists
depiction of the situation? Explain.

Caption: Often the caption of a cartoon has the final impact in delivering the cartoonists
message. Create a caption for the cartoon.

Using Sources 1 to 4, write a paragraph response explaining how the course of World
War II affected Australias relationship with Britain and the USA. Make reference to the
sources by naming and credentialing them in your response.

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