RELATIONS WITH AMERICA

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21195, 19 August 1940, Page 6

RELATIONS WITH AMERICA

Improvement in the cultural and economic relations between New Zealand and the United States may be expected as one of the results of the establishment of the clipper air service between Auckland and San Francisco. The possibilities of development have been emphasised by the invasion by 11 journalists, who by means of cabled news of the flight and by special articles which will follow will bring before millions of American readers a greater knowledge of New Zealand than they have hitherto possessed. New Zealand hopes fervently that the impression it gives the visitors will not be unfavourable, for the future co-operation of the British and American democracies is of great importance to the world. The Hon. W. Nash at the reception at Auckland did his best to assure the American newspapermen that although Britain came first, the United States stood very high in the estimation of New Zealanders. That assurance has the endorsement of everyone in the Dominion. The war has led to much searching of heart, and the attitude of the United States has been studied and criticised from every angle. From the British point of view it might seem that America could have done more towards restraining the aggressiveness of the totalitarian States of Europe, but there are none who will suggest that the United States has not been strictly honourable in the whole of its foreign policy. Closer study of domestic conditions in the States explains much that is rather hazy in the minds of the average New Zealander.

Economically, good relations between New Zealand and the United States are important now and may be infinitely more so after the war. Mr Nash reminded the visitors that in the past three and a-half years New Zealand had purchased goods of the value of £22,000,000 from the United States while American purchases from the Dominion were valued at only £10,000,000. Adjustment of that balance is vitally necessary, and it is preferable that the adjustment should be brought about by an expansion of New Zealand’s markets in America rather than by a restriction of American imports into the Dominion. Trade with Britain certainly comes first and must continue to do so, but there are obvious advantages in fostering trade with America to accommodate New Zealand’s production, which is bound to expand and require alternative markets in the future.