IN THE PACIFIC.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 227, 24 September 1940, Page 6

IN THE PACIFIC.

AUSTRALIA'S POSITION. VIEWS OF EX-PREMIER. The recent appointment of an Australian diplomatic representative to Tokyo was but oue sign of the growing recognition by Australia of their country's status, dangers and opportunities in the Pacific. The present-day outlook of well-informed Australians is fairly well summed up in "The Next Year in the Pacific" (Angus and Robertson), a pamphlet written by the Hon. B. S. B. Stevens, the forme*- Premier of New South Wales.

"The quicker we think out our Pacific policy the better," Mr. Stevens says. At present there is uncertainty, which he attributes largely to lack "of appreciation of Japan's position. "In a peaceful southward economic expansion by Japan it would seem*that we are bound to co-operate. Every country must share in the development of the Pacific region, and our j>olicy ... is to bring about changes which are inevitable peacefully and harmoniously with a view to our own rapid development." He goes on to survey the position of the Netherlands East Indies and Indo-China, Australia. U.S.A. and Russia.

As to the United States, Mr. Stevens says it is possible that the stiffening of the American attitude "in the face of America's patent inability to back up a strong policy by force of arms might actually precipitate action by Japan. . . . We should have no illusions' on the subject of America's unpreparedness.'which some commentators believe is so great that the United States could not engage in a first-class war before 1942." *" He quotes statistics supporting this opinion. He urges that Australia should beware of "appearing over-keen on American protection, as distinct from close cooperation," for "we might lose Japan's goodwill without gaining anything tangible from the United States." Finally he sketches a short-range and a long-range policy for Australia, the latter including "formulation of Australia's Far Eastern policy in collaboration with, but not in dependence upon. Whitehall," and a great strengthenins of the Commonwealth's home "defence". "At present, although the Government has pledged itself to a home security programme, the fact is that local defence Iβ nobody's business just because it is everybody's business."

The pamphlet, completed as recently as August, is especially timely, and its author must be considered to* hare had access to sources of information not easily available, or not available at all, to the majority of his countrymen.