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Source 7.70. “Exercises” extract from The modern world emerges (Lawrence et al.,.
1986, p. 293)
7.15.2 Discourses of Menzies’ loyalty and connection to Great Britain.
Robert Menzies is Australia’s longest serving prime minister, achieving this milestone over
two separate terms in office. During Menzies’ second time as Australian prime minister, the
distinct loyalty to Great Britain sentiment often attributed to Menzies is tempered in The
modern world emerges (Lawrence et al.,1986). Although British heritages are represented in
a significant way, it is not an over-misrepresentation. In fact, an argument could be lodged
that Menzies’ emotional attachment to Great Britain and the impact this had on Australia’s
socio-political contexts of the time are significantly moderated. For example, in Chapter 17
Australia since 1945 in a section titled Who was Robert Gordon Menzies the following
biographical notes regarding Menzies’ allegiance to Great Britain is expressed as:
He was always extremely loyal to Britain and the queen. On her tour of Australia in
1954 he said, “You may count on us; we are yours.”
In 1963 he was knighted by the queen and became Sir Robert Menzies. Two
years later he succeeded Sir Winston Churchill as Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports
in Britain, a great honour. (Lawrence et al., 1986, p. 365)
However, the allegiance that Menzies had to Great Britain is tempered through his policies
that created strong connection with the United States in post-war Australia. This is articulated
overtly by the textbook authors through the following section:
Although Menzies was a great supporter of the queen and the Commonwealth, he
realized that the United States was now the greatest power in the Pacific. Menzies
and his minister for External Affairs, P.C. Spender, were fully aware of the
developing “Cold War”, a state of international tension brought about by the rivalry
of the nuclear powers, the United States and Soviet Union. They believed it was very
important to align with America. It was for this reason, as well as because of their
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