“Recovering Our Lost Property,” 1943–44

Abstract

Australia had seen America as its protector in 1942 but, as victory and the associated peace-process loomed, Australia’s Commonwealth links re-emerged. The Curtin government’s changing allegiance was driven by the realisation that Australia was safe from invasion. In mid-1943, Curtin claimed, “we are now able to contemplate a second phase which involves limited offensive action. We have established that the enemy cannot occupy this country.”