TIES THAT BIND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 230, 27 September 1940, Page 5

TIES THAT BIND.

AMERICA AND BRITAIN

CO-OPERATION MOVEMENT.

WELLINGTON, Thursday.

New Zealand's desire to play its. part to the utmost in the British-American Co-operation Movement, which has for its object the strengthening of mutual ties between the two great democracies and the promotion of a powerful Pacific pact that will assist toward maintaining world peace, was eemonstrated at the inaugural luncheon held in Wellington to-day of the New Zealand section of the movement. The speakers were the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraeer, 1 and the High Commissioner for the United Kingdom. Sir Harry Batterbee. both of whom laid stress on the extent to which the two democracies had already co-operated to build a common frontier against aggression and tyranny.

Mr. C. H. Weston, president of the council of the New Zealand section of the movement, presided, and read a message from Brigadier-General H. E. Goddard, president of the Australian movement.

Among those present were the Consul -| General for the United States, Mr. L. CI Pinkerton; the High Commissioner for Canada, Dr. Riddell; His Majesty's: Trade Commissioner, Mr. R. Boulter; Mr. J. L. Menzies, representing the Australian Trade Commissioner; and Mr. Frank Jones, representing the District Governor of Rotary in New Zealand.

While the thought uppermost in theirl minds was the prosecution to the utmost I of the war effort, they were all deeply conscious of the sympathy of the people', of America for the Allied cause and of the great help being given to Britain. said Mr. Fraser. The significance of fhei meeting that day had l>een most aptlv expressed to him" by Mr. Pinkerton. who, had remarked that it represented ratherl the celebration of a friendship that' already existed. Link With New Zealand. Mr. FTaser referred to the part of Americans in the early history of New Zealand and the building uj> of the com-

mercial link, until to-day that was cemented in the Tasman-San Francisco air service. Perhaps no finer tribute of New Zealand's esteem of a great American was to be found than in the memorial at Auckland to Captain E. C. Musick.

"If there is any opportunity whatever of coming to an understanding which will make for peace and security for democratic nations, then there will be no hesitation," said Mr. Fraser amid applause. What had happened in the Atlantic—the transfer of 50 American destroyers on the one hand and the granting of bases for defence purposes on the other—was remarkable. It had granted America a new frontier against Nazi aggression, tyranny and domination.

Moves in the Pacific In the Pacific certain negotiations were proceeding. These moves had been tempered with wisdom and understanding. There was no suggestion of Britain handing over possessions. Coupled with this common understanding of the necessity for co-operating to thwart the menace of Nazi and Fascist dictators was also the deep sympathy throughout the United States in Britain's struggle against the horrors of air warfare.

Any movement which had as its object the_ drawing closer together of the United States and the British Commonwealth of Nations in mutual sympathy and understanding must have the support of all who desired to see a more peaceful and better world, said Sir Harry Batterbee. If Hitler had done anything good, it was awakening realisation between these two great democracies of the common aims, purposes and general philosophy of life which had been so ably expressed by President Lincoln—government of the people bv the people for the people. | The Empire was grateful for the I moral, spiritual and practical help given by the Unite* States. In particular was it grateful for the moral support, for it was in the world of the spirit that the war would be won, and from nowhere r had there come a greater and more encouraging appreciation of Britain's spirit, as exemplified by the withdrawal from Dunkirk, than I from the United States. It was only on Ithe basis of the closest co-operation and understanding between these two great I democracies that the age-long battle t against the forces of tyranny and oppression could finally be won.— (Press