BRITAIN AND AMERICA

Southland Times, Issue 24242, 27 September 1940, Page 4

BRITAIN AND AMERICA

MOVEMENT FOR CO-OPERATION

NEW ZEALAND WILL PLAY ITS PART FRONTIER AGAINST NAZI MENACE (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, September 26. New Zealand’s desire to play its part to the utmost in the British-American co-operation movement, which has for its object the strengthening of the mutual ties between the two great democracies and the promotion of a powerful Pacific pact that will assist towards maintaining world peace, was clearly demonstrated at the inaugural luncheon held in Wellington today of the New Zealand section of the movement. The speakers were the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) and the United Kingdom High Commissioner (Sir Harry Batterbee), both of whom stressed the extent to which the two democracies had already cooperated to build a common' frontier against aggression and tyranny. Colonel C. H. Weston, president of the council of the New Zealand section of the movement, presided and read the following message from BrigadierGeneral H. E. Goddard, C.M.G., D. 5.0., V.D., president of the Australian movement.

“The British and American co-opera-tion movement in Australia sends heartiest congratulations on the auspicious inauguration of the movement in New Zealand. The work here is showing tangible results and is gaining daily support. Your effort will help considerably towards maintaining the status quo in the Pacific, this being expressed in the policy of the United States of America and the Empire. You have set your hands to a great work for the future of the freedom-lov-ing people of the world. Practical cooperation between English-speaking peoples is the surest foundation and hope for civilization.” Among those present were the ConsulGeneral for the United States (Mr L. C. Pinkerton), the High Commissioner for Canada (Dr W. A. Riddell), his Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (Mr R. Boulter, C.M.G.), Mr J. L. Menzies, representing the Australian Trade Commissioner, Mi - Frank Jones, representing the district governor of Rotary in New Zealand, Mi’ C. W. Earle, C.M.G., Mr J. Parker and Mr A. Glen, chairman of the English-Speaking Union. Colonel Weston paid a tribute to Mr Leigh Hunt, chairman of the executive of the New Zealand Council, through whose efforts the New Zealand section had been founded.

AMERICAN SYMPATHY While the thought uppermost in their minds was the prosecution to the utmost of the war effort, they were all deeply conscious of the sympathy of the people j'of America for the Allied cause and of i the great help being given to Great | Britain, said Mr Fraser. The signifil cance of the meeting that day had been 1 most ably expressed to him by the Consul-General for the United States (Mr Pinkerton) who had remarked that it represented rather the celebration of a friendship that already existed. That friendship was truly not of recent growth, but a bond that had prevailed of many years. Mr Fraser referred to the part of Americans in the early history of New Zealand and the building up of the commercial link till today that was cemented in the trans-Tasman and San Francisco air service. Perhaps no finer tribute of New Zealand’s esteem of a treat American was to be found than in the memorial at Auckland to Captain Edwin C. Musick.

“If there is any opportunity whatever of coming to an understanding which will make for peace and security for the democratic nations, then there will be no hesitation,” said Mr Fraser, amid applause.

What had happened in the Atlantic—the transfer of 50 American destroyers on the one hand and the granting of bases for defence purposes on the other —was remarkable. It had granted America a new frontier against Nazi aggression, tyranny and domination. In the Pacific certain negotiations were proceeding. These moves had been tempered with wisdom and understanding. There was no suggestion of Great Britain handing over possessions. Coupled with this common understanding of the necessity for co-operat-ing to thwart the menace of Nazi and Fascist dictators was also a deep sympathy throughout the United States in Great Britain’s struggle against the horrors of air warfare. The great western democracy had not only helped with the output of her factories but she and her economic life generally had readily welcomed British children. Thus, in almost every way, the two great democracies had shown their readiness to march side by side. COMMON AIMS Any movement which had as its object the drawing closer together of the United States and the British Common- j wealth of Nations in mutual sympathy i and understanding must have the sup- | port of all who desired to see a more peaceful and better world, said Sir Harry Batterbee. If Hitler had done anything good it was awakening the realization between these two great democracies of their common aims, purposes and general philosophy of life, which had been so ably expressed by President Lincoln, “government of the people, by the people, for the people.”

The battle in which the British Commonwealth of Nations was engaged was the age-long struggle between the forces of freedom and tyranny, right and wrong. That battle had to be won and it would not be won without a tremendous effort. It would call for all the resources at the command of the Empire. It would call for every ounce of courage and determination for the mightiest effort the Empire had made. The British Empire, said Sir Harry, was grateful for the moral, spiritual and practical help given by the United States. In particular was it grateful for the moral support, for it was in the world of the spirit that the war would be won and from nowhere had there come greater and more encouraging appreciation of Great Britain’s unconquerable spirit, as exemplified by the withdrawal from Dunkirk, than from the United States. It was only on the basis of closest co-operation and understanding between these two great democracies that the age-long battle against the forces of tyranny and oppression could finally be won, said Sir Harry, in conveying his best wishes to the New Zealand section of the movement.