PACIFIC & INDIA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 April 1942, Page 4

PACIFIC & INDIA

SOME PROBLEMS & DANGERS SURVEY BY MR NASH BROADCAST TO AMERICA & NEW ZEALAND. ASSOCIATION WITH UNITED STATES. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 1.10 p.m.) WASHINGTON, April 26. Mr W. Nash (New Zealand Minister), broadcasting to the American nation and to New Zealand, said: “Notwithstanding the most expert military opinion, we feel that our country is in grave danger, but I can assure New Zealanders that right now American planes, reinforcements and equipment are going to do their parts.”

Mr Nash added that the Pacific, like other theatres, demands a unified command and an unconditional pooling of forces and equipment. “The establishment of the Pacific War Council in Washington,” he said, “is the most significant step hitherto taken to meet these strategic imperatives. It will assure that small and big voices are alike heard in councils of war and peace. I believe the present arrangements will provide a means for the establishment of a common strategic plan, embracing the whole Pacific area and other main theatres with a single aim—early victory. “New Zealanders (Mr Nash continued), “naturally are most interested in halting the Japanese advance southward, but they do not overlook the equally serious—perhaps more serious —consequences that would result from an invasion of India. Nev/ Zealanders therefore fervently hope that ways vzill yet be found to satisfy India’s national aspirations, and that India will soon accept admission into full and responsible partnership with the other free and democratic peoples as a strong, determined and united nation. “If Japan, however, goes southward instead of westward,” said Mr Nash, “then they will find —here I speak for Australia as well as for New Zealand —the most risky and most difficult venture they have so far attempted.” Mr Nash concluded: “New Zealand, as a completely self-governing and independent nation, desires to make its ties with the United States, in peace as well as in war, as strong, close and fruitful as those we already have with Britain.”