MR BRUCE IMPRESSED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 May 1939, Page 7

MR BRUCE IMPRESSED

AWAKENING OF AMERICAN OPINION DANGERS IN EUROPE & PACIFIC GROWING DESIRE FOR UNITY OF DEMOCRACIES. AN OFFICIAL ESTIMATE.' WASHING TON. Ala.v 5. The Australian High Commissioner in London, Mr S. Al. Bruce, whose visit. Io Washington culminated in an audience with President Roosevelt, in an interview today with the Australian Associated Press, said: “I should fail to stress perhaps the most important aspect of my present visit to America, which, like my December visit, may be said to be exploratory and informational, if I. did not mention the marked advance forward of- American opinion relative to the European and Pacific situation in the last six months.

“I was struck in December by the acute awareness of Americans of the dangers in the southern Pacific and their fears that they would increase. Actually this awareness perhaps exceeded what was felt even in Australia. Americans frankly felt that conditions in the southern Pacific were deteriorating alarmingly. “Concerning the European situation, certain portions of the public were keenly aware of the necessity of uniformity of purpose'and, if possible, of action by America with Britain and France against the dictatorships. Well, half a year has immeasurably advanced the consciousness of the United States that it must go as far as possible toward achieving unity of purpose with the democracies. The belief is now widespread.'that the United States should aid with materials and munitions against aggression, and tne most advanced opinion believes that, in the event of a showdown, assistance may also be military. FIRST LINE OF DEFENCE. Publicists and men of affairs are unable to lose sight of the fact "that the European democracies are the first line of defence of the United States and, while there is the greatest anxiety to keep, out of war at all costs, there is nevertheless a realisation that the first great defeat which democracies might suffer' in contest with the totalitarian powers would immediately confront Americans with d : direct danger from the same source and with the necessity of deciding quickly what action to take to stem the tide. “I am, of course, speaking wholly unofficially, and in no way intimating that this is an infallible diagnosis of the majority oi Americans. I would consider such an intimation as meddling in a wholly domestic affair. It is merely the reaction of a traveller for what it is worth, but the marked advance of public opinion in half a year really merits note. “I may incidentally say that the growth of awareness in America concerning the dangers of the European situation has not'diminished their consciousness of the intensification of the South Pacific trouble areas. As a matter of fact, America's awareness of both problems has increased almost in similar proportions, but what A meric a will ultimately do still awaits clarification in the American mind itself.”