SOLOMONS SUCCESS

Evening Star, Issue 24286, 29 August 1942, Page 5

SOLOMONS SUCCESS

HAILED AS REAL GAIN PACIFIC WAR COUNCIL'S VIEWS WASHINGTON-,' August 27. It was stated after a meeting of the Pacific Council to-day that the council viewed the successes in the Solomons as a real gain. The meeting lasted 90 minutes, and was devoted almost exclusively to a report by the New Zealand Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, on the South-west Pacific and New Zealand’s relation to the battle programme. The New Zealand Minister at Washington. Mr Nash, acted as spokesman. He told the Press that his own impression was that the Allies had made a real gain in tin? Solomons. There had been considerable dispersal of the Japanese forces in the South-west Pacific area, and the outlook was rather encouraging;. The losses of aeroplanes at one point had been in the proportion of seven Allied to 33 Japanese.

Mr Nash said the Council, had discussed the new Japanese landing in New Guinea, but he did not comment on this. He said that Mr Fraser had reported on his consultations with the Australian Prime Minister, Mr Curtin. and General MacArthur.

President Roosevelt, after discussing the Solomons operations with Mr Nash, commented on the Press reports. He said they hijd already been given an account of of what was going on.

The British Ambassador, Viscount Halifax, said Mr Fraser was much impressed by the cordial way in which the Australian and American forces were working together. The Australian Minister, Sir Owen Dixon, did not comment.

Mr Fraser had lunch with the Secretary of State, Mr Cordell Hull. Mr Roosevelt’s private secretary, Mr Stephen Early, said the President stayed up until 2 o’clock this morning talking with Mr Fraser, Mr Joseph Grew, formerly Ambassador at Tokio. and Mr Nash. Mr Roosevelt and Mr Fraser resumed the conference after breakfast, spendmg most of the morning together. They then went to the Pacific Council meeting.