SIGNIFICANT MOVE

Chronicle (Levin), 15 January 1949, Page 5

SIGNIFICANT MOVE

Press Assaciation)

Russian Attitude Forces Pacific Pact

(Per

WELLINGTON, Jan. 14. The statement of the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, that a Pacific Defenee Pact may be needed in vifew of the Russian attitude came as a surprise ii\ Wellington, but is regarded as of the utmost significance. There is general acceptance of the view that Russia is playing a very dangerous game and that her attitude constitutes a menace to the future peace of the world. But even the formation an Atlantie Pact, which was agreed upon in Paris in .Oetober, ieft the aveyage New Zealander with the feeling that the menace was a remote one. Mr. Fraser's statepient can be taken as an indication that neither he, nor the Goverpment, is prepared to accept this, view; and his reference to New ZealCnd increasing her defenee expenditijres cap be talcen to apply ito future policy as -well as to decisions already taken. Those who know Mr. Frgser place their own interpretation on his statement that there have been no official cjiscussions on the subject of a Pacific Pact. They believe that Mr. Fraser wouid not have raised the jssne publicly unless there had been some discussions — infohnal, no doqbt — and a measure of agreeipent aipoug the countries likely to be concerned. These countries were listed by Mr. Fraser as New Zealand, Australia, Britain, Canada, the United States, Mexico and certain Ceptral and Soqtli American nations. Britain, Australia and New Zealand already know each other's minds op the subject of Pacific* defenee. Indeed there have been frequent interchanges of views between the New Zealand Goverm mnt and representatives of the de^ fence organisation in Britain and Australia, as well as conferences sueh as that which was held in Fiji last year. Mr. Fraser, it is pointed out, * has the problem in all its aspects wliile had ample opportunity of discussing 011 his present tour and it is assumed that lie wouid have taken the opportunity of sounding out feeling among otjier Pacific countries' representatives while attending the United Nations' - Conference in Paris, similai'ly on his present homeward journey he has had opportunities of discussing the problems associafed >vith the de1 fence of the Pacific against a possihle Russian attajCk with both the Canadiari and the Knjt.ed Btates Gov^ernments. •' -• A Pacific Pact js a natural corollary of an Atlantie Pact, ; it is held here. Well-inforif ed 'quarters point oqt that the agreement between the Western Union Powers, 'the United States and Canada, which -developed out of the SevenrPower conversations. held in Washington last summer, was purely a defensive alliance, designed to off-set the Russian sabre-rattlipg. They suggest that it wouid be impossible to make that' gesture of democratic defiance complete unless the "Pacific Powers also beqame grouped in an alliance for mtuual defenee. The whole world to-day is in such a mess as a fesult of the unexpected post-war trends which have developed from the East that the democratic governments almost everywhere have decided th face the issues squavely and prepare to withstand any threat which may be made to their system. As Alr. A. V. Alexander, Britain 's Defenee Minister, said at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in London, "there was general agreement among all the spealcers of the Commonwealth countrie's , that the only present threat to peace was from the other side of the Iron Curtain. It could be met only by military and economic preparedness." The same view obviously is held by those countries outside the British Commonwealth which are associated with the Atlantie Pact. A clear indication was" given this week by Mr. Truman in hjs'Budgetary demands for tlie purpose of "mainfaining the Colc] War." " For New Zealand the indications are that Mr. Fraser's return will bring new responsibilities. Last year he and the Government putjined a der fence programme which envisaged some form of national service. Ordinarily this has been interpreted to mean copscriptiop in the ,ipilitary sense, but there is a strong possb bility that the Government may have something more sweeping in mind. It is not so lo-ng sinee the Manpower Controls were relaxed. They, it will be remembered, gave powers of direction of labour t.a the Government. In wai'time such controls were exercised with the utmost rigidity in Britain and to a less rigid extent in New Zealand and other Conir monwealfh counfries. It is possible that for the purpose of building up the defensive framework of the Dominion the Government ha§ chosen to use the term Nationa' Service once more and with a definite object in view: dirqptipn qf lahpur wkere it is believed to be needed most. Nobody, least of all the Government, wouid suggest that such a deqisipn wouid be a popular one, especially in .election year, but the world gituation has deteriorated to a state .pf suplj gravity that it cafi be assumed that wken Mr. Frgser returns and makes his report to the -nation he will -not

mince words in stating the reqiiirements which he and the othiur leaders. of the British Commonwealth believe to = be egsentigl to the provision of adequate defenee. Mr. Fraser has often appeared tp be d gloomy prophet, but those whp kpQw bim respect his ability to ^sum up a situation gnd gre agreed that aboye all else he is a reaiist, As they see it New Zealand's cuming general electjon is not likely to jteter jvfj?. Fraser from stating the facts, hpwever unpalatable they may be wjiep yiewed pver tho- top of the baUotbox.