A PACIFIC AXIS?

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 September 1940, Page 9

A PACIFIC AXIS?

ANTIPODES AND AMERICA CONCLUSION FORECAST. I: d COMMONWEALTH’S FUTURE. il The prospect of an Auslralian-Ame-t rican axis is explored in ‘’Harper's 3 Magazine.” by C. Hartley Grattan, an ■ American who has spent some time recently in Australia studying various 3 aspects of that Commonwealth's future, 1 says the “Christian Science Monitor.” ! > Taking the sudden decision of Australia to exchange ministers with the t United States as a sign of new trends, ■ Mr Grattan gives evidence to show 3 that a new buildup in Australia’s foreign policy and affiliations is under ; way. At the back of these moves, he ) argues, is the fact that Britain’s prot tective arm in the Southern Pacific is not what it was. In this, he has the support of ex- ’ Premier Chamberlain’s speech in the 1 House of Commons, of March 7, 1938, in ! which he said: “They (the distant parts ’ of the Empire) are not so vital as the defence of our own country.” He also 1 quotes from a speech made by the vet- ' eran Australian statesman, William Morris Hughes, last year in which the latter quoted Admiral Sir Richard Webb, former president of the Naval War College, as saying: “To imagine that we are going to uncover the heart of the Empire and send our fleet thousands of miles into the Pacific with only one base, Singapore, for our supplies and damaged ships, is to write us down as something more than fools.”

ITS OWN CONTACTS. As indications of the new point oi view in the Commonwealth’s foreign policy, he quotes from a speech oi Prime Minister Menzies, in which he said: “Little given as I am to encouraging exaggerated ideas of Dominion independence ... I have become convinced that in the Pacific, Australia must regard herself as a principal, providing herself with hei’ own information and maintaining her own contacts with foreign Powers . . . We must of course act as an integral part of the British Empire. But all those consultations must be on the basis that the primary risk in the Pacific is borne by New Zealand and ourselves. This means increased diplomatic contact between ourselves and the United States, China and Japan, to say nothing of the Netherlands East Indies and the other countries which fringe the Pacific.” Mr Grattan thereupon explores the prospects of a closer understanding between Australia and the United States. “The United Kingdom,” he says, “cannot long continue to absorb the constantly increasing quantities of primary products which Australia would like to pour into it. The British authorities have lately given clear notice that Australia must look elsewhere for markets. The only logical place to look is the Far East.” AGREEMENT NOT DIFFICULT. He concludes that after the abnormal

war conditions, it will not be difficult tor Australia and the United States to reach an agreement about a Pacific policy. From the strategic point of view, Australia sees the islands owned by Japan stretched across the approach to Australia from the north —“a finger pointing threateningly at it.” It is beginning to doubt, says Mr Grattan, whether Britain will be able to assist in any important way in its defence. Australia is beginning to scent a danger of having to stand alone. "If she is not to stand alone, she must find her way into the American orbit. And where Australia goes, New Zealand must necessarily follow.” Mr Grattan then proceeds to show that bringing Australia under her wing will be as much to America's benefit as to Australia’s for it will furnish the United States with an invaluable bastion in the southern waters of the Pacific. He is therefore keenly interested in showing that the ties of the British Empire are growing weaker, while an American-Australian axis is fast taking shape.