FORCE IN THE PACIFIC

Taranaki Daily News, 28 September 1940, Page 8

FORCE IN THE PACIFIC

dominion and australia lord lothians COMMENT New York, Sept. 26. Lord Lothian, British Ambassador toi the United States, in a Dominion Day; appeal at the New Zealand pavilion at the World's Fair, said he doubted whether many Americans realised the significance of New Zealand and Australia from the viewpoint of United States security and defence in the Pacific. Some regarded them as isolated nations looking for help from the outside. It was true that both relied mainly on the British Navy for long distance defence but they were able to contribute much to the security of the Pacific from their own strength. Their air forces alone were turning out 25,000 trained airmen annually. If the dictators challenged the security of Singapore and the Dutch islands in the Southern Pacific, they would encounter formidable resistance from New Tealand and Australia's ever-growing organised strength. New Zealand had inaugurated half a century ago many social reforms which were now commonplace in every modern democracy. New Zealand had not succumbed to the philosophy of pacifism in international affairs and pre-occupat'ion with individual comfort, which had rotted many democracies. She was making an even greater effort than in the last war to defend free civilisation against totalltarian aggression. He outlined New Zealand and Australia's war effort and recalled that H.M.S. Achilles was manned by New Zealanders. The newspapers at Singapore are permitted to announce the arrival of the Seaforth Highlanders and East Surreys from Shanghai.