Hysteria and Korea

Latest "Farrage" (July 12) describes Melbourne University Labour Club meeting addressed by Ian Turner, M.A., on the Korean question. The report says: "A section of the audience tried all through the meeting to shout down the speaker. Some sections of, the demonstrators seemed to dispute Mr. Turner's right to speak at all." A motion passed at the close of the meeting described the behaviour as "fascist hysteria."

Mr. Turner is reported as saying: "The people of Asia have taken the future into their own hands. They are our nearest neighbours, but have lived under the most degrading conditions, with never any say in their government. The present struggle in Korea is part of a great upsurge of the Asian people, which has grown our of their experience against Japan and promises of self-government made by the Allies . . . You can discount at least 95 per cent, of what you read in the daily press . . . The question of Communism, or Capitalism can only in law and justice be decided by the peoples of each country themselves. We are not going to throw away Australian lives to stop them doing it."