Editing John Latham (judge) (section)

==Politics==
===Early career===
Latham was elected to the [[Australian House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] at the [[1922 Australian federal election|1922 federal election]], standing as a self-described "Progressive Liberal" in the seat of [[Division of Kooyong|Kooyong]]. He received the endorsement of the newly created [[Liberal Union (Victoria)|Liberal Union]], "a coalition of [[Nationalist Party (Australia)|Nationalist Party]] defectors and people opposed to socialism and Hughes".{{sfn|Kilmister|2018|p=86}} He additionally received support from the conservative [[Australian Women's National League]], the imperialist Australian Legion, and colleagues in Melbourne's legal profession.{{sfn|Kilmister|2018|p=87}} He did not fully accept the Liberal Union's platform, although he claimed to "strongly support the attitude of the Union", and issued his own platform consisting of nine principles including a slogan that "Hughes Must Go".{{sfn|Kilmister|2018|p=86}} At the election, Latham narrowly defeated the incumbent Nationalist MP [[Robert Best (politician)|Robert Best]].{{sfn|Kilmister|2018|p=88}}

The 1922 election resulted in a [[hung parliament]], with Latham siding with the [[Australian Country Party|Country Party]] to force Hughes' resignation as prime minister in favour of [[S. M. Bruce]].{{sfn|Kilmister|2018|p=88}} While notionally remaining an independent, he soon announced his support for the new government and attended meetings of government parties.{{sfn|Kilmister|2018|p=89}} His early contributions in parliament concentrated on foreign affairs and the need for greater involvement of Australia and the other [[Dominion]]s in developing imperial foreign policy.{{sfn|Kilmister|2018|pp=88-91}}

Latham was re-elected at the [[1925 Australian federal election|1925 election]],{{sfn|Kilmister|2018|p=91}} standing as an endorsed Nationalist candidate in Kooyong.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/243709093|title=City Electorates|newspaper=The Herald|location=Melbourne|date=30 October 1925}}</ref> He subsequently joined Bruce's government as [[Attorney-General of Australia|attorney-general]].{{sfn|Kilmister|2018|p=91}} His major concerns in that role were "legislating against domestic communists and aligned interests, and reforming industrial arbitration law".{{sfn|Kilmister|2018|p=92}} Latham also served as a key advisor to Bruce on foreign affairs, accompanying him to the [[1926 Imperial Conference]] in London.{{sfn|Kilmister|2018|p=96}} He was pleased with the [[Balfour Declaration of 1926|Balfour Declaration]] on the constitutional status of Dominions which emerged from the conference, stating that it "embodies the most effective and useful work that any Imperial Conference has yet accomplished".{{sfn|Kilmister|2018|p=98}}

In 1929, Latham published ''Australia and the British Commonwealth'', a book detailing the evolution of the British Empire into the [[British Commonwealth of Nations]] and its implications for Australia.{{sfn|Kilmister|2018|p=100}}

===Leader of the Opposition===
After Bruce lost his Parliamentary seat in 1929, Latham was elected as leader of the Nationalist Party, and hence Leader of the Opposition. He opposed the ratification of the [[Statute of Westminster (1931)]] and worked very hard to prevent it.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jcu.edu.au/aff/history/conferences/newcastle/lewis.htm |title=John Latham and the Statute of Westminster |last=Lewis |first=David |date=3 July 1998 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110411212720/http://www.jcu.edu.au/aff/history/conferences/newcastle/lewis.htm |archive-date=11 April 2011 }}</ref>

Two years later, [[Joseph Lyons]] led defectors from the [[Australian Labor Party|Labor Party]] across the floor and merged them with the Nationalists to form the [[United Australia Party]]. Although the new party was dominated by former Nationalists, Latham agreed to become Deputy Leader of the Opposition under Lyons.  It was believed having a former Labor man at the helm would present an image of national unity in the face of the economic crisis.  Additionally, the affable Lyons was seen as much more electorally appealing than the aloof Latham, especially given that the UAP's primary goal was to win over natural Labor constituencies to what was still, at bottom, an upper- and middle-class conservative party.  Future ALP leader [[Arthur Calwell]] wrote in his autobiography, ''Be Just and Fear Not,'' that by standing aside in favour of Lyons, Latham knew he was giving up a chance to become prime minister.

===Lyons government===
[[File:Joseph Lyons and John Latham.jpg|thumb|upright|Latham and Prime Minister Joseph Lyons, c. 1932]]
The UAP won a huge victory in the 1931 election, and Latham was appointed Attorney-General once again. He also served as [[Minister for Foreign Affairs (Australia)|Minister for External Affairs]] and (unofficially) the [[Deputy Prime Minister of Australia|Deputy Prime Minister]]. Latham held these positions until 1934, when he retired from the [[Parliament of Australia|Commonwealth Parliament]]. He was succeeded as member for Kooyong, Attorney-General and Minister of Industry by Menzies, who would go on to become Australia's longest-serving Prime Minister.
Latham became the first former Opposition Leader who was neither a former or future prime minister to become a minister and was the only person to hold this distinction until Bill Hayden in 1983.

As external affairs minister, Latham "judged the measured accommodation of Japan to be a priority in Australia’s approach to regional affairs". During the [[Manchurian Crisis]] and subsequent [[Japanese invasion of Manchuria]], he and Lyons avoided making public statements on the matter and the government adopted a policy of non-alignment in the conflict. In meetings with Japanese foreign minister [[Kōki Hirota]] he unsuccessfully attempted to convince Japan to remain within the [[League of Nations]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-manchurian-crisis-and-the-genesis-of-australian-foreign-policy/|title=The Manchurian crisis and the genesis of Australian foreign policy|first=Honae|last=Cuffe|date=21 January 2022|access-date=8 May 2024}}</ref>

In mid-1934, Latham led the [[Australian Eastern Mission]] to East Asia and South-East Asia, Australia's first diplomatic mission to Asia and outside of the British Empire. The mission, which visited seven territories but concentrated on China, Japan and the [[Dutch East Indies]] (present-day Indonesia), has been identified as a milestone in the early development of Australian foreign policy.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://apo.org.au/sites/default/files/resource-files/2008-08/apo-nid2694.pdf|title=Within China's Orbit?: China Through the Eyes of the Australian Parliament|first=Timothy|last=Kendall|year=2008|publisher=Department of Parliamentary Services, Parliament of Australia|isbn=978-0975201589|page=37}}</ref> Latham publicly identified the mission as one of "friendship and goodwill", but also compiled a series of secret reports to cabinet on economic and strategic matters. He "actively sought information about trading opportunities across Asia, entering into frequent and detailed discussions with prime ministers, foreign ministers, premiers and governors about Australia‘s trading and commercial interests, custom duties and tariffs".{{sfn|Kendall|2008|p=40}} On his return, Latham successfully advocated in cabinet for the appointment of trade commissioners in Asia, where previously Australia had been represented by British officials.{{sfn|Kendall|2008|p=42}}