tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post449967781149817641..comments2024-02-11T19:28:27.997+11:00Comments on Personal Reflections: 3 September 1939 - the Second World War startsJim Belshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-57725016445288342382008-09-05T13:08:00.000+10:002008-09-05T13:08:00.000+10:00Um... Blush. True, Marcellous.Perhaps 1999 was nic...Um... Blush. True, Marcellous.<BR/><BR/>Perhaps 1999 was nicer... ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-4750780791344076842008-09-04T22:01:00.000+10:002008-09-04T22:01:00.000+10:0070 years, surely.70 years, surely.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-84835273069151476582008-09-04T05:52:00.000+10:002008-09-04T05:52:00.000+10:00OMG is right NeilOMG is right NeilJim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-22420212006697689042008-09-04T05:51:00.000+10:002008-09-04T05:51:00.000+10:00Interesting point, Anon. Australia did not ratify ...Interesting point, Anon. Australia did not ratify the Statute until 1942, whereas it took effect immediately in Canada, South Africa and the Irish Free State.<BR/><BR/>I should therefor have said separately rather than independently. My understanding is that declaration of war by the dominions were released in London at the same time, including one by Australia.<BR/><BR/>I do not think, however, that it true to say that we were hostage to British foreign policy in the way that word is normally read. Our slow ratification of the Statute of Westminster was itself an independent foreign policy act -we wnated to preserve imperial links for our own reasons.Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-44288503308050603182008-09-04T00:18:00.000+10:002008-09-04T00:18:00.000+10:00Actually Menzies said on 3 September 1939 that it ...Actually Menzies said on 3 September 1939 that it was his 'melancholy duty' to inform Australians that 'Great Britain has declared war upon her (i.e. Germany), and that, as a result, Australia is also at war'.<BR/><BR/>Australia had not ratified the Statute of Westminster and therefore was not able to independently declare war. We were hostage to England's (or should that be Britain's?) foreign policy. <BR/><BR/>I'm not wishing to be pedantic. I just think it is an interesting fact and one I was not aware of until I read a biography of Churchill earlier this year.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-39674804676378807372008-09-03T21:32:00.000+10:002008-09-03T21:32:00.000+10:00I imagine we will hear a lot about it next year! 6...I imagine we will hear a lot about it next year! 60 years! OMG!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com