Page 40 The New Citizen April 2004 Defeat the Synarchists—Fight for a National Bank THE LIBERAL PARTY: THE NEW FACE OF SYNARCHISM “It might sound melodramatic to suggest that in 1951 Australian fascism’s headquarters were in ‘the Lodge’ Canberra, but that is not so very far from the truth.” —Dr. Andrew Moore, The Right Road? A History of Right-wing Politics in Australia The Synarchy’s Political Parties he fascist citizens leagues and Ttheir associated militias were inextricably intertwined with what historians call the “non-Labor” parties. These parties, such as the Nationalists of the 1920s, the Unit- ed Australia Party of the 1930s, and the Liberal Party from the 1940s until today, have never been anything but thinly-dis- guised fronts for a tiny cabal of financiers who created them in the first place. Like their storm troop- er associates in the Old Guard, the New Guard and the League for National Security, these parties were created for one reason: to stop the national banking, pro-nation Joseph “Honest Joe” Lyons, Prime state policies of the old ALP. Minister 1931-39. The financiers who controlled the Nationalist Party were gath- the financiers faced a real chal- ered in a secretive clique called lenge, due to a shift in the federal the National Union, based in Mel- ALP’s policy in early 1931, fol- bourne. Even the understated Age lowing the election of Jack Lang reported in 1927 on “the capture in NSW in October 1930. of the National machine by the In July 1930, when Scullin was secret and conservative National in London and E.G. Theodore, Union”, and later produced an “in- with his credit expansion and job- side story” about the “Big Four” creation proposals was temporari- New Guard mass rally at Sydney Town Hall. The fascist New Guard was instrumental in electing Lyons in 1931. Some 20 who ran Victorian politics from the ly out of the picture, former Tas- UAP MPs, including Cabinet members, were New Guardsmen. Melbourne Club: Sir William manian premier “Honest Joe” Ly- McBeath, the first chairman of the ons as Treasurer and James Fen- attempt to form a temporary gov- liam Knox, had been the brains son ran so that Menzies could de- National Union, and National Un- ton as acting PM toed the finan- ernment. The Group had already behind BHP, which was to become vote full time to politics. These ion executive members Colonel ciers’ line of “sound finance”, met with Sir Robert Knox, who the country’s wealthiest enterprise financial arrangements apparent- Albert Holdsworth, Sir Robert budget cuts, and savage austerity, had just been elected head of the and the most successful silver ly included making Menzies a Gibson, chairman of the Common- despite bitter opposition within National Union. Knox agreed that mine in the world. partner in the Ricketson-founded wealth Bank Board, and Collins the Labor cabinet. Lyons took a Lyons should now head up all In February 1931, Theodore pro- Capel Court Investments, and oth- House-associated P.C. Holmes leading role in raising the 27 mil- anti-Scullin forces. The Collins posed his note issue for job-crea- er Ricketson companies. Menzies Hunt. As of early 1931, the Nation- lion pound conversion loan in House businessman Knox was a tion, which the financiers excori- wrote to Ricketson on December al Union was headed by Collins December 1930, together with his very powerful man. He was chair- ated as “inflationary”. NSW Pre- 31, 1935, “My dear Stan, …No House businessman Sir Robert advisers in Staniforth Ricketson’s man of the board of the Victorian mier Jack Lang put forward his muddling politician ever had so Knox—the same who ran the Mel- Lang Plan the same month, which generous or so good a friend. Of bourne Citizens Committee. called for: 1) Australia to make no the way in which you have unself- The National Union’s sister further debt payments to Britain, ishly looked after my financial af- body in New South Wales, the until the British agreed to cut in- fairs I cannot speak adequately. Consultative Council, controlled terest rates on Australia’s loans But I do know that but for your the Nationalist Party in that state. from 5 per cent to 3 per cent, as advice and active work I would Between them, they financed all the Americans had done for the probably not be able to continue the other conservative parties in British, 2) All internal government in politics at all.… All things con- the country (including the Coun- interest rates should be reduced to sidered you are the finest and most try Party to some degree), with the 3 per cent, and 3) The London- loveable man I know and your in- National Union handling South rigged, Depression-inducing gold fluence upon me is increasingly Australia, Tasmania and Western standard should be replaced with great.” Australia, and the Consultative a “goods standard.” Menzies’ role as Ricketson’s Council handling Queensland. To accolades from the financier- mouthpiece was so obvious, that The two financier groups worked controlled major newspapers, ALP leader Dr. H.V. Evatt once re- very simply, as described in Victo- “Honest Joe” Lyons began a na- marked, “What Mr. Ricketson says rian Parliament by Harold Glow- tionwide tour for “sound finance” today, Mr. Menzies says not long rey, former acting secretary of the in Adelaide on April 9, sponsored after.”2 Farmers’ Union. He recounted how by the fascist South Australian Events moved rapidly in the National Union secretary John Citizens League. Robert Knox’s crucible of the Depression. The West once demanded that several National Union and Ricketson’s New Guard was founded on April smaller non-Labor parties amalga- Group wanted to anoint Lyons as 18, 1931 in Sydney. On April 18 mate with the Nationalists, against the head of all anti-Scullin forces and 19 in Melbourne, other secre- their wishes. Glowrey asked West because they figured he could tive meetings took place, among how the amalgamation would draw some Labor voters, and be- the Group of Six, Sir Robert Knox happen. West told him, “It is sim- cause he was much more persona- and E.H. Willis of the National ple. We find the money that ena- ble than the stolid John G. Latham, Union, and representatives of the bles these parties to function, and leader of the Nationalist Party. But SA Citizens League and the Vic- if they do not do it voluntarily we they had a problem: Lyons head- toria and the NSW branches of the will cut off their sources of sup- ed only a tiny group of ex-Labor AFAL. These men decided to offi- ply, and they will go out of exist- The UAP’s main constituency, apart from the New Guard. renegades in Parliament, while cially amalgamate all of these or- ence.” Latham headed the much larger ganisations (including the Nation- Financier control of the “non- Group of Six. branch of the Commercial Bank- Nationalist Party in Parliament, al Union’s puppet, the Nationalist Labor” parties has periodically When Scullin returned in Janu- ing Co. of Sydney, and the direc- discredited though it was. With Party), into the new United Aus- erupted into public scandal, and ary 1931 and made the surprise tor of some of the country’s major pressure from the Group and the tralia Movement. required the financiers to create move of reappointing Theodore as firms, including Dunlop Austral- National Union, the problem was On May 7, the parliamentary still another “non-Labor” party, to Treasurer, Lyons was the finan- ia, Vickers Australia Pty. Ltd., and quickly solved: the reluctant branch of the Nationalist Party re- replace the discredited one. Such ciers’ ace-in-the-hole for a coun- the Bank of New Zealand. He was Latham on April 17 announced his named itself the United Australia a time was October 1929, when the terattack. Lyons and Fenton re- also the first federal president of resignation, to become deputy to Party under Lyons and Latham as Nationalist Party of Stanley Mel- signed from the Cabinet. On Feb- the Australian Association of Brit- Lyons in the soon-to-be-formed leaders. The Nationalists in NSW bourne Bruce (later Lord Bruce of ruary 4, Lyons went to Melbourne ish Manufacturers in 1919-20, and United Australia Party.1 balked at uniting with the NSW Melbourne, as a member of the to hand over his portfolio, but also in 1928 was elected president of Latham was not the only politi- wing of the AFAL, many of whose British House of Lords) lost in a met secretly with Ricketson and the Melbourne Chamber of Com- cian this gang bought up. Robert members believed their own landslide to James Scullin and the the Group of Six. With Menzies as merce and vice president of the Menzies was also a bought-and- ALP. With the Nationalists dis- spokesman, the Group asked Ly- Associated Chambers of Com- paid-for puppet of Ricketson, Notes for this section appear on credited after the 1929 election, ons to leave the Labor Party and merce of Australia. His father, Wil- whose personal finances Ricket- page 48. The New Citizen April 2004 Page 41 Defeat the Synarchists—Fight for a National Bank propaganda and harshly attacked those who owned him, Menzies when unpopular, and recruiting a on the line within a few minutes. cist New Guard, including one of “political parties”, but, with aid attacked the plan because of its new Leader from the Labor Party. His voice came through as clear as its top leaders, Sir Frederick Stew- of a £1000 bribe by Collins House proposal to lower interest rates Like many a stock breeder, the a bell.