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54-710: The Australia First Movement (AFM) was an extremist political movement founded in Sydney in October 1941, which advocated isolationism and collaborationism during World War II and supported fascism and Nazism . It grew out of the Rationalist Association of New South Wales and the Victorian Socialist Party , and was led by former Rhodes scholar Percy Stephensen and Adela Pankhurst . It has been alleged that writer Miles Franklin

108-519: A historically tense relationship . From 1431 to 1863, the Kingdom of Cambodia enforced an isolationist policy. The policy prohibited foreign contact with most outside countries. When Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge came to power on 17 April 1975 and established Democratic Kampuchea , the urban population of every city, including Phnom Penh , was relocated to the countryside. This was ordered by

162-777: A special branch of the New South Wales Police operating with support from the Australian military – quickly assessed the organisation as dangerous, with a report of the AFM's third meeting in November 1941 describing it as "the genesis of a Fifth Column of a most virulent kind". As the movement expanded into other states, the Victorian branch of the Commonwealth Security Service assessed

216-470: A $ 200 per day fee on top of other travel expenses such as meals and accommodation. Prior to 2022, visitors were not allowed to travel independently and had to be accompanied by a tour guide . As of 2021, Bhutan does not maintain formal foreign relations with any of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council , notably including China , its neighbor to the north with which it has

270-471: A letter (dated 31 December 1943), Jones told Petrie: "The Government having decided that my retirement should take place at the end of the present year, I am sending you a brief review of the work of the Security Section, which I have had the especial honour of controlling, particularly as your representative, for the past 27 years." Jones' letter and report (headed A brief review of the world of

324-451: A number of these were undercover police. The movement held weekly public meetings for the remainder of 1941, gathering at suburban halls around Sydney and attracting crowds of between 50 and 200 people. A meeting at Adyar Hall on 19 February 1942 was disrupted by protesters and resulted in several brawls breaking out. Stephensen received facial injuries, including cuts and two black eyes. The incident received significant newspaper coverage. In

378-587: A policy made explicit in the Monroe Doctrine's emphasis on unilateral action. Not until 1863 did an American delegate attend an international conference. Isolationism has been criticized for the lack of aiding nations with major troubles. One notable example is that of American isolationism, which Benjamin Schwartz described as a "tragedy" inspired by Puritanism . Some modern American conservative commentators assert that labeling others as isolationist

432-673: A reassessment and in January 1941 the Security Service and MI applied for several ministerial orders under national security regulations restricting Stephensen and the AFM. In March 1942, four members of the Australia First Movement in Perth, and sixteen in Sydney, were arrested, based on the suspicion that they would provide help to Japanese invaders. Documents indicated that those arrested were plotting to contact

486-695: A strategy of isolationism. Robert Art makes his argument in A Grand Strategy for America (2003). Books that have made the argument that the United States followed unilaterism instead of isolationism include Walter A. McDougall 's Promised Land, Crusader State (1997), John Lewis Gaddis 's Surprise, Security, and the American Experience (2004), and Bradley F. Podliska 's Acting Alone (2010). Both sides claim policy prescriptions from George Washington's Farewell Address as evidence for their argument. Bear F. Braumoeller argues that even

540-760: Is divided into two regimes with the People's Republic of China solidified control on mainland China while the existing Republic of China was confined to the island of Taiwan as both governments lay claim to each other's sovereignty. While the PRC is recognized by the United Nations , European Union , and the majority of the world's states, the ROC remains diplomatically isolated although 15 states recognize it as "China" with some countries maintaining unofficial diplomatic relations through trade offices . From 1641 to 1853,

594-514: Is used against individuals in a pejorative manner. Commonwealth Investigation Branch  • Public Service Act 1902  • Peace Officers Act 1925 The Commonwealth Police ( COMPOL ) was the federal law enforcement agency in Australia between 1917 and 1979. A federal police force was first established in 1917, and operated under different names and in some periods as multiple organisations. In late 1979,

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648-704: The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and transferred the counter-espionage and associated roles from the CIS to ASIO. This left the CIS to focus on the more traditional investigation duties. Ray Whitrod , a former Detective Senior Constable in the South Australia Police and early member of ASIO, succeeded Longfield Lloyd as head of CIS and the Peace Officer Guard in 1953. By

702-714: The British Empire . It attracted the support of the Catholic weekly, The Advocate , as well as the Odinist Alexander Rud Mills . By 1938, those who were later associated with the Australia First Movement were advocating a political alliance with the Axis powers of Germany , Italy and Japan . A number of its 65 members came from a far-left background: Stephensen, Pankhurst and Walsh were former Communists . During its short period of existence,

756-493: The Catholic Church and in order to try to keep foreigners at bay, he turned church courtyards into artillery parks and turned confession boxes into border sentry posts. Some scholars, such as Robert J. Art , believe that the United States had an isolationist history, but most other scholars dispute that claim by describing the United States as following a strategy of unilateralism or non-interventionism rather than

810-642: The Communist Party of Kampuchea and the secret police Santebal , and they then established an infamous prison gulag inside the torture chamber called Tuol Sleng (S-21) . Cambodia proceeded to implement the Year Zero policy, hastening isolation from the rest of the world. Ultimately, the authority of the Khmer Rouge and its isolationist policy would collapse in 1978 when the Vietnamese invaded

864-723: The Industrial Workers of the World . At its peak the Commonwealth Police Force numbered about 50 men, almost all of whom were based in Queensland, despite the force notionally being a national one. Commonwealth Police had full police powers for federal offences, but their main task was to report on subversive activities of those opposed to the war and/or the Commonwealth government. Tensions between

918-646: The Internet in order to preserve its culture, environment, and identity. Eventually, Jigme Singye Wangchuck lifted the ban on television and the Internet. His son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck , was elected Druk Gyalpo of Bhutan, which helped forge the Bhutanese democracy . Bhutan has subsequently undergone a transition from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy multi-party democracy . The development of Bhutanese democracy has been marked by

972-453: The North , which would continued by his son and grandson following his death in 1994. In 1814, three years after it gained its independence on May 14, 1811, Paraguay was taken over by the dictator José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia . During his rule which lasted from 1814 until his death in 1840, he closed Paraguay's borders and prohibited trade or any relationship between Paraguay and

1026-606: The Tokugawa shogunate of Japan enforced a policy called kaikin . The policy prohibited foreign contact with most outside countries. The commonly held idea that Japan was entirely closed, however, is misleading. In fact, Japan maintained limited-scale trade and diplomatic relations with China , Korea , and the Ryukyu Islands , as well as the Dutch Republic as the only Western trading partner of Japan for much of

1080-691: The United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus . In addition to providing physical security at many key government locations, the Commonwealth Police also took on a greater role in providing close personal protection to senior politicians and diplomats. Ray Whitrod remained Commissioner of the Commonwealth Police until 1969. After Whitrod left in 1969 to head the Royal Papua & New Guinea Constabulary (as it

1134-518: The 1930s under the "Australia First" slogan. Between 1936 and 1942, retired businessman and far-right activist William John Miles published 16 volumes of a newsletter titled The Publicist , to which he contributed. He was a leading member of the Rationalist Association, and used The Publicist as his mouthpiece. Before 1939, it described itself as being "for national socialism" and "for Aryanism; against semitism". In January 1942,

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1188-400: The AFM as a "pro-Fascist, pro-Nazi, anti-Semitic organisation". On 25 November 1941, Labor MP Max Falstein referred to the AFM in federal parliament as an "anti-war, anti-democratic, and pro-fascist organisation" and requested Attorney-General H. V. Evatt conduct a review of the movement. New South Wales premier William McKell wrote to Prime Minister John Curtin a day later asking for

1242-399: The AFM's activities to be restricted. An initial review of the movement by Evatt and Eric Longfield Lloyd concluded that the AFM seemed to comprise "old or ageing and eccentric persons with a zest for taking the unpopular side in discussions" and suggested its leadership only receive an official reprimand. However, the AFM's continued public activities after the attack on Pearl Harbor prompted

1296-498: The Australia First Movement held regular public meetings, published a manifesto and ten-point policy statement, and made attempts to recruit additional members by mail, largely from existing subscribes of The Publicist and acquaintances of existing members. Its first public meeting was held at the Australian Hall on 5 November 1941 with Stephensen and Walsh as the keynote speakers, reportedly attracting 212 attendees although

1350-575: The Australian Capital Territory Police), was also led by Jones from its establishment on 28 September 1927. During World War II the CIB's special intelligence functions were largely handed over to the Commonwealth Security Service (CSS). When Jones retired, in 1943, he is said to have refused to hand over codes given to him by MI5 , and sent a secret report on CIB's activities to the head of MI5, Sir David Petrie . In

1404-491: The Commonwealth Police and Australian Capital Territory Police were merged to form the Australian Federal Police (AFP). Initially, after the six British colonies in Australia federated in 1901 , there was no police agency to enforce federal (Commonwealth) laws. Instead, the various state police forces were called upon by the Commonwealth as required. During the latter stages of World War I , there

1458-564: The Commonwealth Police was formally disbanded. Jones became the head of the Special Intelligence Bureau and led the Investigation Branch; among the hallmarks of his time in office was a single-minded focus on suppressing left-wing groups of any sort, ranging from trade unions to the nascent Communist Party of Australia . The Federal Capital Territory Police , also known as the Commonwealth Police (and

1512-405: The Commonwealth and to assist state police agencies. Commonwealth Police assumed responsibilities for policing Norfolk Island and Christmas Island , established intelligence liaison posts overseas, and conducted uniformed policing duties at the nation's main airports. In 1964, Commonwealth Police (including a number of state police sworn in as special COMPOL members) deployed to Cyprus as part of

1566-609: The French revolutionary wars and the Napoleonic wars, encouraged another perspective. A desire for separateness and unilateral freedom of action merged with national pride and a sense of continental safety to foster the policy of isolation. Although the United States maintained diplomatic relations and economic contacts abroad, it sought to restrict these as narrowly as possible in order to retain its independence. The Department of State continually rejected proposals for joint cooperation,

1620-459: The Japanese armed forces, sabotaging vulnerable strategic area, surrender the Australian armed forces, assassinate prominent Australian political and military leaders, and execute those who opposed them. Two were convicted of conspiring to assist the enemy , and the others were interned for the duration of the war. Adela Pankhurst , of the famous suffragette family, had visited Japan in 1939 and

1674-572: The Queensland and federal governments flared up a number of times, including during and after a federal police raid on the Queensland Government Printer's Office. After World War I ended, the Government began to wind the force down. In 1919 it was formally disbanded and the few remaining officers at this time were merged with the remnants of the military's Special Intelligence Bureau to form the Investigation Branch, which

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1728-575: The Security Service of the Commonwealth Investigation Branch ) to Petrie, stated, among other things, that: Jones was succeeded as the head of the federal police organisation by Eric Longfield Lloyd . The Peace Officer Guard (POG) was established in 1925 to provide physical security at major and critical government locations. By the 1940s the POG consisted of several hundred uniformed personnel. For administrative reasons,

1782-473: The active encouragement and participation of the reigning Bhutanese monarchs since the 1950s, beginning with legal reforms, and culminating in the enactment of Bhutan's Constitution . Tourism in Bhutan was prohibited until 1974. Since then, the country has allowed foreigners to visit, but has tightly controlled tourism in an effort to preserve its natural and cultural heritage. As of 2022, tourists must pay

1836-452: The affairs of other nations by declining to enter into alliances, foreign economic commitments, international agreements, and generally attempting to make one's economy entirely self-reliant; seeking to devote the entire efforts of one's country to its own advancement, both diplomatically and economically, while remaining in a state of peace by avoiding foreign entanglements and responsibilities. Before 1999, Bhutan had banned television and

1890-497: The ailing Miles transferred editorship of The Publicist to his co-author Stephensen, and had no involvement in the Australia First Movement, dying later that year. The Australia First Movement was formally established on 20 October 1941 at the Shalimar Café in Sydney. Those present adopted a constitution and elected Stephensen as president, with Walter Tinker-Giles as treasurer and Sheila Rice as secretary. The other members of

1944-463: The best case for isolationism, the United States in the interwar period, has been widely misunderstood and that Americans proved willing to fight as soon as they believed a genuine threat existed. Warren F. Kuehl and Gary B. Ostrower argue: Events during and after the Revolution related to the treaty of alliance with France, as well as difficulties arising over the neutrality policy pursued during

1998-614: The coastlines of China, Japan, and Korea, and were one of the key primary concerns, although the maritime ban was not without some control. In the winter of 1757, the Qianlong Emperor declared that—effective the next year— Guangzhou was to be the only Chinese port permitted to foreign traders, beginning the Canton System . Since the division of the territory following the Chinese Civil War in 1949, China

2052-657: The country and then overthrew Pol Pot on 7 January 1979. After Zheng He's voyages in the 15th century, the foreign policy of the Ming dynasty in China became increasingly isolationist. The Hongwu Emperor was not the first to propose the policy to ban all maritime shipping in 1390. The Qing dynasty that came after the Ming dynasty often continued the Ming dynasty's isolationist policies. Wokou , which literally translates to "Japanese pirates" or "dwarf pirates", were pirates who raided

2106-673: The early 1950s the Commonwealth Investigation Service was run-down and largely ineffective: It had lost a lot of its quality staff to Australian Security Intelligence Organisation; resources were limited; and its role was in reality poorly defined. The Peace Officer Guard was in a similar position. In 1957 the Commonwealth Government acted to address the situation and passed the Commonwealth Police Act . This led, in 1960, to

2160-504: The executive committee were Ian Mudie , Gordon Rice, Vera Parkinson, Marjorie Corby and Elaine Pope. Adela Walsh and Les Cahill were appointed as paid organisers. Other notable members included poet Rex Ingamells and Odinist Alexander Rud Mills , who was the first official member in Victoria. The Australia First Movement has been characterised as anti-Semitic , anti-war and pro-isolationist, and advocated Australia's independence from

2214-437: The formal merger of the CIS and the POG into the Commonwealth Police (unofficially known as COMPOL). Over the course of the next two decades the Commonwealth Police expanded its roles and capabibilities. In addition to increasing the numbers of detectives (to investigate crimes such as money laundering, damage to and theft of Commonwealth property), the Commonwealth Police developed forensic, training and administrative services for

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2268-566: The head of the Commonwealth Investigation Service (CIS) was also automatically in charge of the POG, with the title Superintending Peace Officer. Other senior CIS officers also occupied senior POG positions in an ex-officio capacity. Following the war's end the CSS and CIB were consolidated into the Commonwealth Investigation Service [CIS]. In 1949, the Australian Government, at the insistence of British and US authorities, established

2322-644: The immediate aftermath, a number of venues refused to host the movement's meetings, including the Sydney Town Hall . Many of the Australia First Movement's members had been under surveillance for years prior to the movement's formal creation, with their activities reported on and mail intercepted. The Publicist had been monitored by the Commonwealth Investigation Branch (CIB) and Military Intelligence (MI) since its formation. The Military/Police Intelligence Branch (MPI) –

2376-451: The investigative capacity of the various Commonwealth Departments. The second role was to conduct special intelligence investigations and mount surveillance on any left-wing groups the Government felt to be subversive of national security. The Commissioner of the Commonwealth Police Force from 1917 to 1919 was William Anderson , a former Inspector in the New South Wales Police . Major H. E. (Harold) Jones replaced Anderson just before

2430-497: The outside world. The Spanish settlers who had arrived in Paraguay just before it gained its independence were required to marry old colonists or the native Guaraní in order to create a single Paraguayan people . Francia had a particular dislike of foreigners, and any foreigners who attempted to enter the country were not allowed to leave for an indefinite period of time. An independent character, he hated European influences and

2484-516: The perceived lack of action on the part of the Queensland Police , was the last straw for Hughes, who had spent months arguing and fighting with the government of Queensland , led by its anti-conscriptionist Premier T. J. Ryan , over a range of issues. Hughes doubted the loyalty of several prominent Queensland politicians and public servants, and felt that it was necessary to create a Commonwealth Police Force to ensure that Commonwealth law

2538-460: The period. The culture of Japan developed with limited influence from the outside world and had one of the longest stretches of peace in history. During this period, Japan developed thriving cities, castle towns, increasing commodification of agriculture and domestic trade, wage labor, increasing literacy and concomitant print culture , laying the groundwork for modernization even as the shogunate itself grew weak. In 1863, Emperor Gojong took

2592-527: The throne of the Joseon Dynasty when he was a child. His father, Regent Heungseon Daewongun , ruled for him until Gojong reached adulthood. During the mid-1860s he was the main proponent of isolationism and the principal instrument of the persecution of both native and foreign Catholics. Following the division of the peninsula after independence from Japan at the end of World War II , Kim Il Sung inaugurated an isolationist nationalist regime in

2646-468: Was adhered to in what he regarded as a "rogue" state. Under the War Precautions Act , 1914, Hughes quickly created a plain-clothed police force, which commenced operations in mid-December 1917. Hughes claimed Australia was at risk from possible revolt or similar action by organisations associated with either Irish nationalism , left wing and anti-war activities, such as Sinn Féin and

2700-499: Was also involved in the AFM, as she attended three AFM public meetings in December 1941, and had long time literary associations and friendships with Stephenson, Herbert and Dark. However, historian Jill Roe has documented Franklin's clear opposition to the political views of the AFM in her 2008 biography of Stella Miles Franklin. The AFM was inspired by the activities of retired businessman William John Miles , who had campaigned during

2754-735: Was arrested and interned in 1942 for her advocacy of peace with Japan. In his official history of Australian involvement in the Second World War , Paul Hasluck criticised those internments as the "grossest infringement of individual liberty made during the war". Winter (2005) has suggested that the far-right and antisemitic Australian League of Rights was the "natural heir" of the Australia First Movement and The Publicist . Isolationism This contrasts with philosophies such as colonialism , expansionism , and liberal internationalism . Isolationism has been defined as: A policy or doctrine of trying to isolate one's country from

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2808-413: Was considerable tension within Australian society, particularly over the issue of introducing military conscription. On 29 November 1917, at a public rally over this issue in the rural Queensland township of Warwick, an egg was thrown at Australian Prime Minister Billy Hughes . The offender was charged under Queensland state law, whereas Hughes wanted a Commonwealth charge preferred. The incident, and

2862-498: Was later known as the Commonwealth Investigations Branch (CIB). Like the Commonwealth Police Force, the CIB was administered by the Commonwealth's Attorney-General's Department. CIB had offices located in most of the states' capital cities. The agency, which never had more than about 100 staff, had two roles. The first role was to investigate offences against Commonwealth laws and to better coordinate

2916-564: Was then known), Commissioner Jack Davis led the Commonwealth Police. In early 1975 the then Labor government moved to merge the Commonwealth Police with the other federally funded agencies, the Australian Capital Territory Police and Northern Territory Police . The new agency was to be called the Australia Police. Planning was well advanced when the proposal was abandoned in late 1975. Following

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