NATIONS OF PACIFIC

Southland Times, Issue 24244, 30 September 1940, Page 5

NATIONS OF PACIFIC

SUGGESTION FOR CONFERENCE MR WHITNEY SEEKS PROMPT ACTION IMPORTANCE TO U.S. OF ANTIPODES (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received September 29, 6.30 p.m.) SAN FRANCISCO, September 28. Mr Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney, on his return from a tour of New Zealand, Australia and the Dutch East Indies, suggested that the United States call a conference of Pacific nations to discuss means of preserving peace. “I predict that out of such a conference would come a peace lasting many years, because if the Japanese intentions are peaceful she will have a chance to prove it,” he said. “If not the other nations will have a chance to get together for their mutual welfare. “There is no question that it would be a great loss to us if we awoke one morning to find the great resources of Australia, the Dutch East Indies and the Philippines diverted elsewhere, also perhaps to find other happily free peoples like ourselves free no longer. If these things are not worth the utmost effort to preserve now when they still can be preserved, then we may soon have to fight for them when the odds are turned very much against us.” Mr Paul Patterson, publisher of The Baltimore Sun, who has arrived in Honolulu after a tour of the Far East and the Antipodes, said that he found the Dutch Indies fully prepared to meet any Japanese threat. He believed that the Dutch Air Force would be more than a match for the Japanese. The Dutch, he added, were building a great defence system throughout the islands. The United States should utilize Britain’s Pacific bases, particularly Singapore. Other members of the party revealed that the seas around the Indies were heavily mined and that vast military preparations were proceeding. AXIS ALLIES DECIDE ABOUT “SPACES” < (Received September 29, 7.30 p.m.) BERLIN, September 28. A spokesman said that Italy, Germany and Japan had already decided on the precise “spaces” in Europe, Asia and Africa where the word of each would be law. Areas were also assigned to Russia, but it was not stated whether Russia was consulted. It is pointed out that the three Powers would not be monololistic rulers, but “leaders” in their own areas. The spokesman added that a joint announcement by Russia and Japan about future relations was expected shortly. Correspondents asked whether Russia’s supply of war materials to China clashed with the new pact. The spokesman replied that the transfer of American destroyers to Britain provided a parallel. The decisive point was what effect supply might have.