ANGLO-SAXON UNITY

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 290, 5 September 1942, Page 8

ANGLO-SAXON UNITY

Stressed By Mr. Fraser In Washington LEND-LEASE GESTURE (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Received September 4, 8.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, September 3.

The New Zealand Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, for an hour and a half today addressed a secret session of the Congressional Foreign Relations Committee. The chairman of the committee, Senator Bloom, told the Australian Associated Press that Mr. Fraser had described New Zealand’s war effort and also the united attitude of the New Zealanders in supporting their Government and the British Government. He added: “Mr. Fraser made a great impression. His information will be useful for a long time.”

“Before the war ends there will be a -second, a third, a fourth, a fifth front —all victorious,” said Mr. Fraser in a speech at the National Press Club. “The Americans,” he added, “have every reason to be proud of their troops in the south-west Pacific. They have created a great impression in New Zealand by their physique, spirit, and behaviour. They are true comrades of our boys and together they will stem the Japanese hordes.” The United -States, the United Kingdom and the Dominions, Mr. Fraser said 1 , were standing together and winning -together in -the fight for freedom. New Zealand could never adequately express her appreciation, of the help of the United States. “In the darkest hour ■President Roosevelt never faltered, and even before the United States was in the war the President was so, convinced of -the importance to human-, ity of our cause that he made the wonderful gesture of lend-lease. “There is,” her continued “probably no parallel in history of a leader of a nation saying to another nation, ‘We will provide the munitions and talk about the payment afterward.’ That action sealed the friendship of the United States and the British nations forever) Physically, mentally, spiritually we are one.”

Tribute to Chiang. •Mr. Fraser further said that the Axis had long prepared for the war, and he quoted as an example Japan’s readiness in munitions, transport and even drugs for the occupation of Malaya; but the democracies meanwhile had -been -building for peace and social betterment-and were only now becoming prepared. Mr. Fraser paid a high tribute to Marshal Chiang Kai-shek, and said “If China had yielded the Japanese probably would now 'be swarming over New Zealand.” He added that New Zealand and Australia had never faltered in. their greatest danger,. because they knew the democracies were building ever more strongly. Now, being well outlie road, their faith burnt higher than before.

In introducing Mr. Fraser, the Minister to New Zealand, Brigadier-Gene-ral Hurley, jokingly .said that New Zealanders were difficult to distinguish from Americans except for a slight difference in accent and the way they made coffee.