What was so significant about John Curtin’s media announcement of 27th December 1941?

Question

What was so significant about John Curtin’s media announcement of 27th December 1941?

Answer 1

After being effectively dropped by the British when 'Singapore' fell,it was an announcement that Australia looked to the U.S,as the British were desperate to save their crumbling Empire.(Australia's soldiers were over in Europe,protecting Britain's interests).

Answer 2

On 8 December, the Pacific War broke out. Curtin took several crucial decisions. On 26 December, the Melbourne Herald published a New Year's message from Curtin, who wrote: "[w]ithout any inhibitions of any kind, I make it clear that Australia looks to America, free of any pangs as to our traditional links or kinship with the United Kingdom." This was received badly in Australia, the UK and the U.S.; it angered Winston Churchill, and President Roosevelt said it "smacked of panic". The article nevertheless achieved the effect of drawing attention to the possibility that Australia would be invaded by Japan.

Answer 3

Australia had previously been a firmly 'British' country, looking to Britain for support and military assistance.

In early December 1941, the Japanese attacked British and American colonies in Asia. The British were fighting desperately, and without allies, against Germany and not doing very well. They had little to spare to hold Singapore and thus keep the Japanese away from Australia. This is not quite true, they did have significant military assets at Singapore, but they lacked key weapons that compromised the whole, and British leadership was terrible.

With Singapore under threat and the war against Japan going very badly, Curtin made the momentous (but 'no-brainer') decision to place Australia's fate in the hands of the United States: only the US could provide the troops and weapons needed to defeat Japan before Australia was isolated and under attack.

After World War II, America became Australia's most important ally and Britain lost her Empire, creating the situation that endures to this day.