STRATEGIC POLICY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 January 1943, Page 2

STRATEGIC POLICY

— RESULTS OF CASABLANCA AMERICAN AND CHINESE ASSESMENTS. FAR EASTERN SITUATION UNCHANGED. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) ' y NEW YORK. January 28. The Washington correspondent of the “New York Times,” Arthur Knock, assesses the results of the Casablanca (1) Messrs. Roosevelt and Churchill selected a British and Ameiican -milit ary leader for the remainder of the North African campaign. (2) They planned the military strategy for 1943 to follow the eviction of the Axis from North Afrca, based on an increased assumption of the offensive everywhere, particularly against the submarines. (3) They laid the ground for closer cc-operation with Russia and China in the formation of military and economic decisions which .will eventually be reached by a supreme council of the “Big Four,” at which the views of the other United Nations will have weight. (4) They failed to obtain a satisfactory basis of adjustment of the political differences between the various French factions.

Informed officials in Washington say that the Fighting French faction remains unreconciled to M. Peyrouten’s appointment in spite of the fact that it was obviously made with the consent of Messrs. Roosevelt and Churchill, who were in Casablanca when Peyrouten arrived in North Africa. Mr Krock says that for that reason it is clear that the Fighting French are no longer assailing the policy of the War Department and the State Department, but the policy of Messrs. Roosevelt and Churchill themselves. EVENTS TO COME.

“As far as it can be told at present, the story of the conference is complete,” said the President’s secretary, Mr Stephen Early, to the Washington correspondent of the United Press of America. “Subsequent chapters will undoubtedly be written,” he added. The Chief of the Office of War Information, Mr Elmer Davis, said the story would be amplified by subsequent military events. He discounted the reports that Finish, Turkish and Italian representatives attended the conference.

The United Press correspondent says that the Note from President Roosevelt and Mr Churchill to M. Stalin is interpreted as foreshadowing even closer Russian co-ordination in the Ailed offensive plans. QUESTIONS UNANSWERED

The Chinese “Central Daily News” sums up the Chinese reaction in stating: “Undoubtedly important military developments will follow Casablanca, but the ocicial announcement leaves the question of a four-power council unanswered and the Far Eastern military situation unchanged.”

The Chnese Central news Agency in Chungking says that the Casablanca conference was the most important event since the joint United Nations declaration early in 1942, and it is particularly welcomed in China. “The Allies have re-emphasised their decision to smash Germany before they turn on Japan,” declares the New York “Daily: News,” which adds: “Nothing the Australian Prime Minister or anybody else says can change that decision. Mr Curtin’s remark about the South-west Pacific jbeing in the hands of a .mere caretaker was one of the few sour notes in the Casablanca symphony.” Other American newspapers share the view that the Casablanca conference affirmed the Allied decision to smash Hitler first.