Declaration of war with japan john curtin prime ministerial library. John curtin was the 14th prime minister of australia, and held the position for most of ww2. Curtin s struggle for power against joe lyons and bob menzies, his dramatic use of it when he took office in october 1941, and his determination to be heard in washington and london as japan advanced, is a political epic unmatched in australian experience. Men and women of australia, we are at war with japan. John joseph ambrose curtin 8 january 1885 5 july 1945 was the 14th prime minister of australia, serving from 1941 to 1945 and dying just before the end of world war ii.
The japanese attack on pearl harbor occurred two months after curtin became prime. On 8 december 1941, the government of the united kingdom declared war on the empire of japan, following the japanese attacks on malaya, singapore and hong kong. Curtin brings home troops national museum of australia. Australian prime minister john curtin walks to a platform and makes an impassioned speech about australias war effort, saying that every human being in the country, whether he or she likes it, is.
He leads the australians in civilization vi australia views the map with a unique eye, looking for areas of high appeal and open lands for livestock. Fdr day of infamy december 7th, 1941 war with japan duration. John curtin, the leader who turned australia to the united. The fact that curtin declared war on japan independently of britain is. In early 1943, though he had been a renowned anticonscriptionist during the great war, curtin deftly pushed through a proposal allowing conscripts to be sent outside australian territory to wage war against japan.
It was mentioned that japan entered the war in 1941. Governorgeneral lord gowrie fourth from left reading the proclamation announcing that australia is at war with japan. War was formally declared the following day at 1115 on the 9th of december 1941. December 8, 1941 one hour after japanese bombers struck at hawaii on the morning of december 7, 1941, prime minister john curtin of australia declared that from one hour ago, australia has been at war with the japanese empire. He led the country for the majority of world war ii, including all but the last few weeks of the war in the pacific. Book prime minister curtins appeal to united states of. John curtin the leader australia needed during wwii japan. Parliamentary involvement in declaring war and deploying forces. Australia declares war on japan following the attack on pearl harbor by japan on the 7th of december 1941 australian prime minister john curtin declared that from one hour ago, australia had been at war with the japanese empire. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Why did australia declare war on japan on dec 8th 1941.
Prime minister john curtin addresses the nation from melbourne to inform them. On 7 december 1941, the japanese launched its pacific offensive with thailand. Men and women of australia, we are at war with japan 8 december 1941 29 may 2012 by leave a comment editor. John curtins war by john edwards penguin books australia.
John curtin, leading australia in the pacific war 1941. Alexander horeruthven, declared that australia was at war with japan. While churchill and roosevelt focused on the war in europe. The coming of war in the pacific, and reinventing australia, by john edwards on october 7, 1941, a mere eight weeks before japan launched its war in the pacific, curtin became. When john curtin learned that a japanese invasion fleet was steaming towards port moresby but had encountered australian and american resistance, he walked into the parliament to share the grim news. John curtin 8 january 1885 5 july 1945 was an australian politician who served as the 14th prime minister of australia, in office from 1941 to his death in 1945. After broadcasting australias first independent declaration of war after the battles.
Excerpt from abc radio broadcast of the prime ministers address to the nation. Curtin addressed the nation on the radio, saying, men and women of australia. Curtins struggle for power against joe lyons and bob menzies, his dramatic use of it when he took office in october 1941, and his determination to be heard in washington and london as japan advanced, is a political epic unmatched in australian experience. Brisbanes wwii relics hide in plain sight as bus shelters. John curtins speech to the australian people after japan. Just eight weeks into his wartime prime ministership, labor leader john curtin spent the weekend of december 67, 1941, at the unpretentious victoria palace hotel in little collins street, melbourne, not far from the armys victoria barracks. Australian pm john curtin, delivers his call to america speech. John curtin became australia s prime minister eight weeks before japan launched war in the pacific.
He was the leader of the australian labor party alp from 1935 to 1945, and its longest serving leader until gough whitlam. The australian war memorial attack on the character and leadership of wartime prime minister john curtin. He meant that any war in the pacific would be japan s. The british secretary of state for foreign affairs, anthony eden, was in transit to moscow at the time, so prime minister winston churchill was in charge of the foreign office. Labor leader john curtin appointed as prime minister. Historical recording received from radio 3db 3lk news. John curtins speeches and writings, paradigm books curtin university. Minister of australia, 194145, and of old parliament house. On 8 december 1941, the pacific war broke out when japan bombed pearl harbor. After prime minister john curtin declared war on japan in 1941, the people of brisbane heeded his warnings to be ready for an attack by building significant war infrastructure. Having first formed a minority government in 1941, curtin led labor to victory and majority government at the 1943 election, which remains labors greatest victory in a.
Australian prime minister john curtin walks to a platform and makes an impassioned speech about australias war effort, saying that every human. The attack on pearl harbor caused the united states to declare war on japan, break isolationism and get deeply involved in world war ii. John curtin argued case of putting australias defence first. Honduras declared war on japan on december 8th, 1941 and germany and italy on december th. That has happened because, in the first instance, japanese naval and air forces launched an unprovoked attack on british and united states territory. John cu rtin announcing the declaration of war with japan, 8 december 1941. The criticism of john curtin by the australian war memorial.
Curtin announces australia looks to america jan 1942. Canada declared war on the empire of japan on december 7th 1941. This is the text of a radio speech made by prime minister john curtin on 8 december 1941 the day after the japanese attacked the usas naval base at pearl harbor, hawaii, thereby entering the second world war. Declaration of war two days after the japanese attack on the united states naval base at pearl harbor, australia declared war on japan, and on axis powers finland, hungary and romania. David day, john curtin, harper collins, sydney, 1999. On 9 december 1941, australias governorgeneral, alexander horeruthven, declared that australia was at war with japan. United kingdom declaration of war on japan wikipedia. Bombing of darwin japanese bombers made the first attack on darwin four days after japan captured singapore.
Why did canada declare war on japan in 1941 answers. John curtin 8 january 1885 5 july 1945 was an australian politician who served as the 14th prime minister of australia from 1941 until his death in 1945. This was the first time australia had declared war on another country as an independent nation, expressing its relatively new principle of. Paragraph 2 a unprovoked means that you did not cause something to happen. John curtin, the leader who turned australia to the united states. Pm menzies announces that as a result, australia is also at war. Listen to john curtin declaring that australia is at war with japan in 1941 on. John curtin became australias prime minister eight weeks before japan launched war in the pacific. John curtin s speech to the australian people after japan declared war. I have shown in the preceding chapters that australia was facing grave dangers from japan throughout 1942, including a determination on the part of japanese prime minister general hideki tojo to throttle australia into submission to japan by means of operation fs.
The next day australia declared war on japan, the first declaration of war australia had ever made independently of britain. Haiti declared war on japan on december 8th, 1941 and germany and italy a few days later. John curtin 8 january 1885 5 july 1945 was an australian politician who served as the 14th. John curtin and international relations during world war ii, john curtin prime ministerial library, perth, western australia, 1999. If war came to the pacific it would be of japan s making. That has happened because in the first instance, japanese naval and air forces. Readers of history and geopolitics will be holding their breath. John curtins war and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. The role of prime minister john curtin during world war ii in changing alliances from britain to the us. An online exhibition about john curtin s life and his role as prime minister of australia during world war ii when the office of prime minister was suddenly thrust upon a reluctant john curtin on 7 october 1941, the pacific war was about to explode on australia s doorstep. The role of prime minister john curtin during world war ii. Britain, australia and the usa declare war on japan.
1326 10 73 1120 712 159 1214 1484 1329 1030 1045 1302 1203 505 249 221 113 139 334 213 1555 70 489 627 359 1335 1166 1017 417 153 399 1139 327