MVM 1954

Menzies informs Parliament that Soviet diplomat Vladimir Petrov had requested and been granted political asylum. He also announces Cabinet's decision to institute a Royal Commission into Soviet espionage in Australia.

The Petrov Affair ...

"… 'spy scare' plays into Menzies' hands: anti-communism and the threat of Australian society being undermined by a fifth column remained central to his propaganda armoury, and he used it very effectively against Evatt."
Allan Martin in Australian Prime Ministers, 2000 p 196.

For Sir Robert Menzies' view see "The Petrov Spy Case" in his book "The Measure of the Years" (1970).

May 29 election: Menzies Coalition government is returned.

Pattie Menzies becomes the third Australian to be awarded the GBE. The citation for the Dame Grand Cross in the Order of the British Empire reads:

"In recognition of years of incessant and unselfish performance of public duty, in hospital work, in visiting, addressing, and encouraging many thousands of women in every State of Australia, including very remote areas, and in the distinguished representation of Australia on a number of occasions overseas."

In receiving this honour Dame Pattie follows Dame Florence Reid (1917) and Dame Mary Hughes (1922).

February 3: Royal fever grips Australia during Queen Elizabeth's first visit to Australia. More than a million Australians welcome her in Sydney and people congregate in huge crowds for a glimpse of her. It is the first time a reigning monarch has visited Australia.

April 3: Vladimir Petrov, Third Secretary at the Russian Embassy in Canberra, requests political asylum in Australia.
April 13: Prime Minister Menzies informs Parliament of Vladimir Petrov's defection and Cabinet's decision to institute a Royal Commission into Soviet espionage in Australia.
April 20: Petrov's wife Evdokia defects after she is freed from Soviet couriers by Australian police at Darwin airport.
Debriefings by ASIO later reveal that Petrov was a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Soviet intelligence service and his wife an intelligence officer at the embassy. The defections led to the withdrawal of the Soviet Embassy from Australia and the expulsion of the Australian Embassy from Moscow.
The Commission's principal findings included that the Soviet Embassy in Canberra had been used for espionage in Australia and that the only Australians who knowingly assisted Soviet espionage were Communists.

For Sir Robert Menzies' view see "The Petrov Spy Case" in his book "The Measure of the Years" (1970).

Australia joins the South-East Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO), formed to prevent the spread of Communism in SE Asia. Member countries are France, Great Britain, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand and the United States.

The ALP formally splits over the Communist issue.

Australia's Mawson base is established in Antarctica.

John Landy, at the British Empire Games in Vancouver, is the first Australian runner to break the four-minute mile.

US conducts H-bomb tests at Bikini Island.

Geneva Conference: Vietnam is divided along the 17th parallel into Communist North Vietnam and western backed South Vietnam.

Soviet official at the Russian Embassy in Canberra since 1951, Vladimir Petrov defects to Australia. Two weeks later his wife Evdokia also defects after she is freed from Soviet couriers by Australian police at Darwin airport. The defections led to the withdrawal of the Soviet Embassy from Australia and the expulsion of the Australian Embassy from Moscow.

The South-East Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO) is formed to prevent the spread of Communism in SE Asia. Member countries are France, Great Britain, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand and the United States. The treaty is supplemented by a Pacific Charter, affirming the rights of Asian and Pacific peoples to equality and self-determination and setting forth goals of economic, social and cultural cooperation between the member countries.

US Supreme Court rules that racial segregation in schools is a violation of the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution.

All food rationing ends in Britain, nine years after the end of the Second World War when it was imposed.

British athlete Roger Bannister is the first man to break the four-minute mile barrier.


	Menzies informs Parliament that Soviet diplomat Vladimir Petrov had requested and been granted political asylum. He also announces Cabinet's decision to institute a Royal Commission into Soviet espionage in Australia. The Petrov Affair ... "… 'spy scare' plays into Menzies' hands: anti-communism and the threat of Australian society being undermined by a fifth column remained central to his propaganda armoury, and he used it very effectively against Evatt." Allan Martin in Australian Prime Ministers, 2000 p 196. For Sir Robert Menzies' view see "The Petrov Spy Case" in his book "The Measure of the Years" (1970). May 29 election: Menzies Coalition government is returned. Pattie Menzies becomes the third Australian to be awarded the GBE. The citation for the Dame Grand Cross in the Order of the British Empire reads: "In recognition of years of incessant and unselfish performance of public duty, in hospital work, in visiting, addressing, and encouraging many thousands of women in every State of Australia, including very remote areas, and in the distinguished representation of Australia on a number of occasions overseas." In receiving this honour Dame Pattie follows Dame Florence Reid (1917) and Dame Mary Hughes (1922).		"The Petrov Spy Case" (pdf), in The Measure of the Years 2 Old Parliament House: "The Petrov Affair: a nation in fear"
			"Tourist Bob: 'Good gracious! There's something familiar about this!", Frith, Melbourne Herald, 1954 21
			Dame Pattie, Robert Menzies and his sister, Mrs Isobel Green, in front of the store in Jeparit where he was born 19


	February 3: Royal fever grips Australia during Queen Elizabeth's first visit to Australia. More than a million Australians welcome her in Sydney and people congregate in huge crowds for a glimpse of her. It is the first time a reigning monarch has visited Australia. April 3: Vladimir Petrov, Third Secretary at the Russian Embassy in Canberra, requests political asylum in Australia. April 13: Prime Minister Menzies informs Parliament of Vladimir Petrov's defection and Cabinet's decision to institute a Royal Commission into Soviet espionage in Australia. April 20: Petrov's wife Evdokia defects after she is freed from Soviet couriers by Australian police at Darwin airport. Debriefings by ASIO later reveal that Petrov was a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Soviet intelligence service and his wife an intelligence officer at the embassy. The defections led to the withdrawal of the Soviet Embassy from Australia and the expulsion of the Australian Embassy from Moscow. The Commission's principal findings included that the Soviet Embassy in Canberra had been used for espionage in Australia and that the only Australians who knowingly assisted Soviet espionage were Communists. For Sir Robert Menzies' view see "The Petrov Spy Case" in his book "The Measure of the Years" (1970). Australia joins the South-East Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO), formed to prevent the spread of Communism in SE Asia. Member countries are France, Great Britain, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand and the United States. The ALP formally splits over the Communist issue. Australia's Mawson base is established in Antarctica. John Landy, at the British Empire Games in Vancouver, is the first Australian runner to break the four-minute mile.		F2
			Royal Tour - the Queen and Prince Philip in Australia 7
			Old Parliament House


	US conducts H-bomb tests at Bikini Island. Geneva Conference: Vietnam is divided along the 17th parallel into Communist North Vietnam and western backed South Vietnam. Soviet official at the Russian Embassy in Canberra since 1951, Vladimir Petrov defects to Australia. Two weeks later his wife Evdokia also defects after she is freed from Soviet couriers by Australian police at Darwin airport. The defections led to the withdrawal of the Soviet Embassy from Australia and the expulsion of the Australian Embassy from Moscow. The South-East Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO) is formed to prevent the spread of Communism in SE Asia. Member countries are France, Great Britain, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand and the United States. The treaty is supplemented by a Pacific Charter, affirming the rights of Asian and Pacific peoples to equality and self-determination and setting forth goals of economic, social and cultural cooperation between the member countries. US Supreme Court rules that racial segregation in schools is a violation of the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution. All food rationing ends in Britain, nine years after the end of the Second World War when it was imposed. British athlete Roger Bannister is the first man to break the four-minute mile barrier.		Vietnam 16