MESSAGE TO U.S.A.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 March 1942, Page 4

MESSAGE TO U.S.A.

NEW ZEALAND FRIENDSHIP & GOOD WISHES PRIME MINISTER BROADCASTS. UNION OF ALLIED EFFORT IN PACIFIC. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. A message of friendship and good wishes from the Government and people of New Zealand to the President, Government and people of the United States was broadcast this morning by the Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) who, using the radio telephone news service, addressed an audience of forty million as a result of a national hookup in America. Stating that he was fully confident that the Allied nations would emerge victorious from the present crisis in human history, Mr Fraser expressed gratitude for the assistance the United States had rendered and had promised to render to New Zealand, adding: “I would like to make it clear that while we ask most earnestly for help, it is to our own exertions that we look to preserve us. We can and will defend New Zealand, but we wish to" do more than that. We wish to make New Zealand a base for an offensive against Japan and to play our full part in the campaigns which will liberate those territories which the unscrupulous aggressor succeeded in seizing in the first months of war.”

Commenting on the importance both countries attach to the development of closer relations, Mr Fraser said New Zealand was pleased to welcome as the first United States Minister such a distinguished American as General Hurley, who had already given this country evidence of American frankness, determination and speed in action. His arrival in New Zealand, followed so closely by the appointment and dramatic appearance in Australia of General MacArthur, as United Nations Commanderlin-Chief in the Pacific area, of which New Zealand was part, had been more than a tonic—it had been a proof of the rapidity with which the growing might of the United States was swinging into action. The Prime Minister stressed the importance he attached to the opportunity the radio telephone service would give for forging closer ties between the peoples of the two countries. This service would reveal to the United States “how closely we are related and how, under the impact of great events, we see that relationship enlarged and strengthened.” Referring to the Dominion's war effort, Mr Fraser said the number of men mobilised or serving with the forces overseas would, on a population basis, be equivalent to a United States force of eleven millions. He touched briefly on the achievements of Dominion soldiers, sailors and airmen overseas and to the organisation of the Emergency Precautions Scheme and Home Guard: “Above all, the spirit of the New Zealand people is high, and I am confident their morale will remain at fighting pitch whatever happens.” ,

Pointing but that it was not only as a living democracy of free peoples that New Zealand was worthy of assistance, Mr Fraser said: “As a producer of foodstuffs and raw materials and as a source of good fighting forces, New Zealand is likely to tempt the attention of an enemy. Together with Australia, the loss of no portion of the Pacific remaining to the Allies would be more damaging to the Allied cause.”