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Perceptions of the Soviet Union in Australian Political Discourse Between 1943 and 1950

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Perceptions of the Soviet Union in Australian Political Discourse Between 1943 and 1950 Perceptions of the Soviet Union in Australian political discourse between 1943 and 1950. Belinda Quick School of History & Politics December 2014 Table of Contents Table of Contents ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Abstract .................................................................................................................................................... 2 Declaration................................................................................................................................................ 3 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 4 Chapter 1: 1943 ...................................................................................................................................... 14 Chapter 2: 1946 ...................................................................................................................................... 44 Chapter 3: 1950 ...................................................................................................................................... 67 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................ 107 Bibliography .......................................................................................................................................... 112 1 Abstract The aim of this dissertation is to assess the role of discourse about the USSR in Australian politics between 1943 and 1950. During these years, Australia experienced a period of political volatility. Despite the fact that almost every political debate in Australia at this time involved some reference to the USSR, scholars have discussed only tangentially the ways in which discourse about Soviet Russia was used for political purposes. This thesis, therefore, will address a gap in the historiography by identifying varying depictions of the Soviet Union during the early phases of the Cold War, and by examining how these depictions were used for political purposes. This thesis is divided into three chapters, which will address case study years – 1943, 1946 and 1950. These years were chosen specifically for their significance in emphasising the contrast through time of perceptions of the Soviet Union. Beginning in 1943, a period of unparalleled optimism regarding the USSR, this dissertation analyses the events and themes which shaped opinions throughout the following seven years, concluding with the lowest point in Australian perceptions in the early-1950s. Some of the common and recurrent topics and themes for discussion are: war, life in the USSR, Soviet foreign policy and international communism. These issues will be addressed within both an international and domestic context. A range of resources were used in the writing of this thesis to explore the changing nature of discourse about the Soviet Union. These include both the South Australian and national Tribune newspapers (the Communist Party of Australia digest), a range of over 60 state and national newspapers, Commonwealth Parliamentary Debates and political pamphlets. Additionally, some biographical material has been used, as well as contemporary commentaries which assist in the development and understanding of political trends and tendencies throughout the early-Cold War era. 2 Declaration I certify that this work contains no material which has been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma in my name in any university or other tertiary institution and, to the best of my knowledge and belief, contains no material previously published or written by another person, except where due reference has been made in the text. In addition, I certify that no part of this work will, in the future, be used in a submission in my name for any other degree or diploma in any university or other tertiary institution without the prior approval of the University of Adelaide and where applicable, any partner institution responsible for the joint award of this degree. I give consent to this copy of my thesis, when deposited in the University Library, being made available for loan and photocopying, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. I also give permission for the digital version of my thesis to be made available on the web, via the University’s digital research repository, the Library Search and also through web search engines, unless permission has been granted by the University to restrict access for a period of time. ………………………………….. ………………………………….. ……………………… Print name Signature Date 3 Introduction During the decade between 1943 and 1953, the Soviet Union was used by all Australian political organisations as a ‘blank canvas’ onto which they projected images of the ultimate ‘evil empire’ or idyllic paradise, or something in between, depending on their agenda. The main aim of this dissertation is to assess this preoccupation with the Soviet Union and its impact on Australian political discourse. I intend to fulfil this task by researching three years (1943, 1946 and 1950) as case studies with a view to answering the research questions articulated below. I will then use these case studies and findings to paint a larger picture of the impact of discourse regarding the USSR on wider Australian political history. At the core of this thesis are four interrelated research questions. Firstly, what is said or written in public discourse about the USSR and how did this change over time? Secondly, how were portrayals of the Soviet Union used as a political tool? Thirdly, how did rival strands within the discourse about the USSR interact with each other? Fourthly, in what ways did portrayals of the Soviet Union change political discourse? The first research question might seem an obvious one, but it is necessary to ask it because – to my knowledge – no other historian has systematically worked through the relevant primary sources to provide an empirical basis for the study of discourse about the Soviet Union. The USSR was a heavily debated topic in Australian politics and these discussions were integral in the makeup of the discourse of this era. This thesis proposes systematically to examine the instances of such references and the pattern of changes in the discourse throughout the period 1943 to 1950. My second research question focuses on how portrayals of the USSR were used as political tools by groups from across the political spectrum. Hitherto, there has been little direct discussion in the secondary literature of the place of the Soviet Union in Australian political discourse. The full significance of discourse has not been explored and discussion of the place of the USSR in Australian political discourse his been limited to isolated events rather than analysed in a wider historical context. For example, historians who have discussed Menzies’ political career occasionally mention his anti- Soviet views in their coverage of particular episodes, such as the coal miners’ strike of 1949, but make little attempt to reconstruct the overall place of anti-Soviet rhetoric in Menzies’ political ideology and practice. Yet a systematic study of Menzies’ speeches, public comments and writing during this period reveals that he constantly used references to the USSR for a wide range of political purposes. For instance, he condemned many of the policies of the ALP on the grounds that they represented a Soviet- 4 style ‘socialisation’ of Australia. He also used the bogey of the ‘Red Threat’ as a weapon against trade union militants and as a justification for the repression of the CPA.1 For Menzies, invoking the Soviet bogey was a key discursive weapon which he attempted to use with varying degrees of success, for a number of reasons. These motives included isolating the Communist Party of Australia (CPA), defaming and destabalising the Labor Party (ALP), building the electoral appeal of the conservative parties he represented, and also combatting the industrial unrest which hampered Australian politics and economics during these seven years. In some situations, however, Menzies chose to muffle his strong anti-Soviet opinions. This was usually in instances when discussion of the issue might have proven counter-productive, such as during the period of alliance with the USSR in World War II. In order to answer my third research question, I will analyse how the various rival strands within the discourse about the USSR interacted with each other. These strands did not exist in isolation from each other because the various rival groups were competing for public support and therefore had to respond to the discourse of others. For example, members of the Communist Party were obliged to defend themselves against allegations made by the Liberal/Country Party that they were agents of Moscow. How did the Communist Party attempt to use positive images and descriptions of the USSR in their discourse as a tool to respond to the criticisms of the major political parties in Australia? An example of this interaction between two rival strands within the discourse is provided by the debate about the introduction of conscription upon the outbreak of the Korean War. Menzies argued that one of the most important reasons for criminalising the CPA was to relieve the population of constant fears of the Soviets, who, he claimed, were attempting to spread
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