DEFENCE IN THE PACIFIC.

Evening Star, Issue 23691, 26 September 1940, Page 8

DEFENCE IN THE PACIFIC.

Etvde.vce of a growing desire on the part pf the United States to co-operate with Australia and New Zealand as well as with Canada on matters pertaining to defence in the Pacific is furnished in a cablegram [published today announcing that the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Senate has unanimously approved a favourable ■ report on amended treaties with all three British dominions. It is stated that provision is planned for direct negotiation between these countries and the United States in any disputes, rather than with Great Britain. As firm Anglo-American collaboration is already assured, there can bo no suggestion that Australia and New Zealand are being invited to draw nearer to the United States at the expense of British interests. A reasonable interpretation of this somewhat vague message is that the present position in the Pacific calls for speedy action and united resolve by the English-speaking democracies bordering on it, and that direct discussions between them are considered to be a valuable timesaving factor in meeting a situation that is not without its menacing potentialities. Air Roy Howard, one of the American journalists who recently visited New Zealand and Australia, has pointed out with truth that the independent members of the British Commonwealth of Nations, far from being disloyal to the Empire for which they are pouring out blood and treasure even more generously than in 1914,” would welcome stronger friendship with the United States so that the Englishspeaking way of life should not be snuffed out “ should the worst happen and England fall temporarily.” We in this part of the world do not, of course, believe that England will fall, even temporarily, but it must be apparent that Great Britain’s position in Europe will be made (ill the easier if an understanding between the United States and tho British dominions ensures tho integrity of Anglo-American influence in the Pacific. Earlier this month the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the American House of Representatives (Mr Sol Bloom) expressed the opinion that the links between the United States and Australia sliould be strengthened. At the present time, he said, there was no necessity for a defensive agreement similar to that between Canada and the United States, but new developments might make it desirable in the future. A report from Washington sent by the special correspondent of the Sydney ‘ Morning Herald ’ says it is understood that, under British pressure, the United States is accepting tho viewpoint that Russia offers a natural point of application for the neutralisation of Japan. Already, according to this source of information, the United States is consulting Russia with a view to stemming Japanese aggression. Whether this information will be authoritatively confirmed remains to be seen. In interest value it runs more or less parallel with to-day’s announcement from Tokio via Shanghai that Japan and Germany have agreed in principle to a defensive alliance. It may be revealed, indeed, that there is some connection between the two reported moves.