MR. FRASER’S VISIT

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 283, 28 August 1942, Page 5

MR. FRASER’S VISIT

Message From “Down Under” WASHINGTON, August 26. The New Zealand Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, was enthusiastically welcomed at the airport by many officials, including the Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, the British Ambassador, Lord Halifax, and the New Zealand Minister to Washington, Mr. Nash. “I’m very glad to be in Washington at this time,” said Mr. Fraser. “I bring a message from the American boys down under. In the last few weeks I saw them in Australia and elsewhere. You can lie certain that they are doing their best.. They are very efficient, and on the friendliest terms with tbe people. They have created the finest impression, and we love them very much. The American boys are doing admirable work in the Solomons, New Guinea and elsewhere. I can assure parents that their Loys are very highly regarded and are well received everywhere.” Mr. Fraser radiated energy, greeting everyone with a cheerful smile, despite a report from other members of the party that they had been in the air for 60 hours. Mr. Fraser, accompanied by the United States Minister to New Zealand, Briga-dier-General Hurley, and party, is attending a dinner at the White House tonight, and overnight lie will be the guest of the President. The President’s secretary, Mr. Early, said that owing to the Duke of Kent’s death the cancellation of the dinner was _ discussed, but after consulting the British Embassy it was decided to proceed and to make the function an informal one and in the nature of n business meeting rather than a social I n net ion. MR. CURTIN’S PLANS CANBERRA, August 27 The Prime Minister, Mr. Curtin, is not likely to visit Washington this year, political observers say. One reason for his not accepting the invitation is that he dislikes air travel. The Labour Party also ruled that the Prime Minister should not leave Australia in wartime, but this objection could be overcome if Mr. Curtin felt he should go. However, he is known to have held a sincere belief that his most important work lies in Australia. I A message from Washington on Wednesday said that President Roosevelt announced that he had invited the Prime Ministers of Australia and South Africa to visit him some time this year to confer on the progress of tbe war.j