PACIFIC STRATEGY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 40, 15 April 1942, Page 2

PACIFIC STRATEGY

NEW ZEALAND MISSION TO

AUSTRALIA

An outline of the purpose and results of the visit made to Australia by himself and Mr Coates, another member of the War Cabinet, was given by the Minister of Supply, Mr Sullivan, addressing the Wellington Chamber of Commerce.

Apart fiom dealing with supply he said, the purpose of the mission was to get the view of the Australian Government and War Cabinet on the situation in the Pacific and the steps necessary for the joint defence of Australia and New Zealand audi to convey the full mind cf the New Zealand Government and War Cabinet.

"Our idea was that the time had arrived when a joint strategy should lie Avorked cut between the two countries," said Mr Sullivan. "We felt that a specific area, including Australia and New Zealand, should be defined, and that there should be a supreme commander in that area, with authority, in consultation with the Governments concerned, to dispose the forces and equipment available there. He also felt that it was in the best interests of Anzac area that there should be adequate representation cn the council in Washington of the Governments in this part of the world.

"We had been somewhat troubled 133' the course the Pacific war had taken," Mr Sullivan continued; "with the falling back from one point to nnother —and in each case to' a point noit fully and adequately prepared in defence. We felt that the main job was to see that in New Zealand ftnd Australia great bases were developed for the purpose of building up adequate forces by land, sea or air, not only for the defence of those countries, but sufficient to enable a forward movement to be made in the future. Ultimately a plan was worked out to a final conclusion and was submitted to the Imperial and American Governments."

Meantime there had been a further change in the position. The United States had taken over the general control of tli; war in the Pacific, and General McArthur had been appointed supreme commander, find there wc-ukl be unified control in the Pacific.