Wairarapa Times-Age MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1941. THE KING’S REPRESENTATIVE.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 February 1941, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1941. THE KING’S REPRESENTATIVE.

he was welcomed officially in Wellington on Saturday. Sir Cyril Newall abandoned severe restraint and formality and declared that no Governor-General Designate or his wile ‘‘have ever arrived with greater enthusiasm and eagerness to know both races of your people, your wonderful country, and all that it stands for in the British Empire and the world.” Our part in the world and even in the Empire is smaller yet than it niay be in years to come, but there certainly will be a ready and full response from both races in this country to the warmth of friendly feeling find of the spirit ol Empire comradeship which so markedly characterised our new Governor-General s first address on Xew Zealand soil.

Better proof could hardly have been given that the British Commonwealth of Nations is moving with the times than in the appointment as Governor-General of Xew Zealand of one who was until recently Chief of the British Air Staff and Comman-der-in-chief of the Royal Air Force. With its comrade organisations in the Dominions, now united with it in various theatres of war. the Royal Air Force hits won in noble fashion an established place beside the older fighting services-—tlm Royal Navy and the Army on which the Empire has long depended for security in days both of peace and war.

There is a special link between this country and its now Governor-General in the fact that we have no greater cause lor national pride than in the part our youthful manhood has played and is playing in building up the strength and fighting power of the Royal Air Force.

On his record of able and distinguished service. Sir Cyril Newall is one whom we may be proud to receive as the King s representative, and his corning to this ouilying Pacific Dominion is the more to be welcomed at a time when I he Air Force with which he has been long and intimately associated so obviously has a great part to play—certainly not less definitely on this side of the world than in Western Europe—in overcoming the dangers by which the British Commonwealth and all free nations are encompassed and in safeguarding peace when it has figain been established. The Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) summed the position up very, well when he said, in welcoming Sir Cyril Nowall in Wellington on Saturday:—

We count ourselves singularly fortunate on this occasion that New Zealand shbuld have as its Govenor-General an airman of such exceptional experience; one whose profound knowledge of the problems of modern warfare in all its phases commands the very highest respect; and one whose achievement in building up the Royal Air Force, until it has become the finest in the world, commands the undying gratitude of the British people.

In these critical days and in the years that lie immediately ahead, the presence and the guidance of Sir Cyril Newall will be of the utmost value to New Zealand, not only where the direction of our general war effort is concerned, but in dealing with the questions of defence find security that are raised sharply al present in the Pacific*.

No other policy is possible, in face of the present tactics of Japan—tactics in which barefaced threats of aggression are mingled or alternated with decidedly unconvincing assurances of peaceful intent —than adequate measures of defence preparation. in co-operation with other countries in and beyond the Empire. The honest desire of this country and other Dominions to avert any further disturbance of peace in the Pacific is not in doubt, but that most certainly does not mean that we should he indifferent to or neglectful of the threat of aggression. The ability, knowledge and experience of our new GovernorGeneral naturally will bo of great value and assistance 1 to our Government in its handling ol this grave problem and others.

It may be anticipated that the association between Sir Cyril Newall and the members of. both races in New Zealand will be in all respects happy. The Governor-General has spoken, in terms which will be appreciated by till New Zealanders of his meeting in England with .Maori and pakeha soldiers from this country. In all parts of the Dominion, too, then* is wholehearted admiration, respect and sympathy for the people of the Homeland in their heroic* endurance of the ordeal of ruthless and murderous bombing and every other rigour that the war entails. The spirit of our kinsfolk in the United Kingdom, as Sir Cyril Newall has said, is truly magnificent and in contemplating their valiant fortitude we assuredly should be more than ready to fact* with calm resolution whatever sacrifices or burdens the war may impose upon this country. These are days in which the kinship of Empire, expressed in our common allegiance to the Throne and in the presence in this country -»f tin* King s representative assumes in the eyes of all deep meaning and significance. “WHEN?” IN THE BALKANS. AT time of writing, there is no official confirmation of definitely " worded reports received at the end of last week that German troops had crossed the Danube into Bulgaria in strong force. A statement was broadcast subsequently by the B BC. that it is rumours rather than real news about Bulgaria that are circulating most widely just now. Al the same time, there are declared to be many indications that a concerted movement oif German troops into Bulgarin may take place in the near future. Some well-informed observers on the spot have stated in recent times that even pro-Gvrinan elements in Bulgaria in many iUKUmevs should prefer that their country should be allowed to preserve its neutrality, but the same observers have added that any serious opposition by the Bulgars to a Nazi penetration of their country is unlikely. The most definite recent statement on this subject made with authority was that in which. Mr Churchill spoke of Bulgarian airfields concerted movement of German troops into Bulgaria may take place It is agreed on all hands that the question is not whether the Germans will enter Bulgaria, but when they will do n». With multi • in tins slate one of the most critical questions; raised concerns the <ug<> at which Turkey will be prepared to take action against German aggression in the Balkans. A correspondent in Istanbul wrote <>n *h;:> vital question recently that: — The Turkish General Steif is confident that any frontal all u*i; from Bulgaria against the Turkish fortificatiunx m Thrace mu*.! f.ul, but it would be dangerous if the Germans infiltrated across Bull,, i .. t and look, up positions on the Greek frontier. On this aspect, it was added, the Turkish newspaper ’ Yem Sabah." declared that Turkes’ would act before the Germans reached the Greek frontier. A measure of uncertainty on this important quei.thm uncertainty only to be resolved by events- has been awakened by the Tun ■ - Bulgarian nun-aggression agreement. The precise significance .J that agreement has yet to appear, but it should be conclusb'e that the ,q;i. <•- ment itself provides expressly that it shall not tdTem the contracted undertakings of either signatory. As is indicated in the reported opinion of her General Stud, quoted above, it is sufficiently obvious ‘hat an effective defence of lurr.ey ■. own frontiers must be contingent to a material eximii uuui rllerti vc co-operation with Greece It seems wholly improbable that I urges given any undertaking to Bulgaria which wmild tie her hands in withstanding German aggrev-.ion .Although Britain mt’uiaov ;■ r-terpmg her own counsel -o her intended r..of .dm m meHmg th** kite ?, Ney; thrimt. it i ; taken (•>:■ gim-.i'M th,st ■!.<• is r< .my *.o g;V«’ Tmmw, well „■ Greece all the help m ),< r; ■ w<-i h. <-rd< > British aid m..v be effective, it is, of >■ -.it •<• vmentia! that lurkcy ;>.s .-.•ell;, Greece' b....u!d m.utc the It). *. ' !‘.“l own s-ppot limit let