PLEDGE BY AUSTRALIA

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21361, 4 March 1941, Page 5

PLEDGE BY AUSTRALIA

MR MENZIES’ STRAIGHT TALK DESIRE FOR PEACE IN THE PACIFIC ATTITUDE TO UNITED STATES AND JAPAN (Official Wireless) (Received March 4, 11.40 a.m.) RUGBY, March 3 The Australian Prime Minister, Mr Menzies, speaking at a luncheon in London, said:— “ People in Japan are asking why Australia has sent a large force to Singapore to participate in making safe that key position of British power in the Far East, and my answer is that the commonest precaution of the ordinary man is to lock up the door and insure against*loss. “ We in Australia are determined to do all we can not only to insure ourselves against loss, hut to make our contribution to insure the British Empire against loss. Australia has great primary responsibilities in the Pacific, on the shores of which it is set, and she has primary liability and risks if anything goes wrong among the nations which border that ocean. “ I want to say something a little realistic, and I hope sensible, about our attitude towards the two great Powers quite plainly of predominate importance in the Pacific— Japan and the United States. Nothing disturbs me more than to encounter that type of mind which appears to assume that because we Australian and other British people are engaged in a deadly war, and a wjr which will not terminate except with- victory, we should at the same time, because Japan has made an agreement of some kind with the Axis Powers, permit ourselves willy-nilly to drift into an atmosphere with regard to Japan which is dubious and dangerous.”

Desire For Amity Mr Menzies added that there was no difficulty which could not be resolved between nations with the utmost frankness. Why should not Australia say to Japan that they knew that Japan had her place in the world and Japan knew that Australia had hers, and discuss their mutual difficulties. Mr Menzies added: “The instructions given to the Australian Minister at Tokio were, ‘Let us get together and discuss whatever problems exist. Let us get to understand each other.’ We aim at getting nearer Japan, not sitting suspiciously in our corner. Because we are realists we have pursued in Australia a policy of local defence which is directed at enabling us to resist with our own forces the attack of any aggressor. There should be no pretence about international relations. I have no reason to believe that the Pacific Ocean cannot be made in fact and in substance pacific if all people who live on it. will merely be frank and sensible and understand each other. “As to the United States we have appointed a man there who has done splendid work for the friendship of our two countries. This contact must in the long run be not only good for a peaceful Pacific but a magnificent thing for civilised people all over the world. Without Suspicion or Fear “We shall do well in this Pacific, in which the primary interest and primary responsibility of Australia reside, if we decide that none of the old cliches will control our action. We shall judge every case on its merits. We shall approach every cne of our neighbour countries without suspicion and without fear. “I am pledged to give a guarantee on behalf of Australia that fear and suspicion will never govern our foreign policy.” PILOT’S GOOD “BAG” 20 PLANES SHOT DOWN RESULT OF SINGLE COMBAT RAIDER SET ON FIRE (omcial Wireless) (Received March 4, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, March 3 A Dornier bomber was destroyed off the east coast at daylight yesterday. It was shot down in single combat by a fighter pilot who already has twenty confirmed victories to his credit. The pilot, a Hurricane squadronleader, was on patrol over Norfolk when he sighted a Dornier 17 4000 feet above him. He chased it out to sea, caught it about 75 miles from the coast, and silenced the bomber’s rear gunner with his first burst of fir.?. His second and third bursts, which were delivered at close range, set the raider gyi fire in two places, and as it glided towards the sea with smoke pouring from it three of the crew of five were seen to bale out. Following the victim down low, the squadron-leader was again under fire, bullets striking the wind-screen and mirror. Closing in, he gave the raider a final burst and the Dornier crashed into the sea, sinking immediately. Only one man was seen to come to the surface. EXPORT LICENSES BRITAIN AND AMERICA (United press Assn.—Liec. Tel. Copyright) (Received March 4. 11 a.m.) WASHINGTON. March 3 The authorities have issued a blanket license for the export of machine tools, certain strategic chemicals and aluminium to Britain and Northern Ireland.

GALLANT GUNNER AWARDED FLYING MEDAL COURAGE AND FORTITUDE SERVICE THOUGH WOUNDED (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received March 4, 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, March 3 The Distinguished Flying Medal has been awarded to rear-gunner Sergeant Akeroyd, who, according to an official account, was carrying out his duties in one formation of aircraft detailed to attack an enemy camp. On approaching the target the formation was attacked by six enemy fighters. Sergeant Akeroyd was wounded in a finger and later he was hit in the right arm and finally in the stomach. In spite of his injuries he returned the fire at every opportunity. His wireless was smashed, and when the attackers were driven off he crawled forward and informed the pilot of his injuries and the extent of the damage to the aircraft. He displayed great courage and fortitude throughout. GRIM EXPERIENCES VICTIMS OF NAZI RAIDER GREAT HUNGER AND THIRST RELEASED BY BRITISH (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) MOGADISCIO, March 3 Seamen released by the British advance told a grim story of suffering after a German raider in the Indian Ocean sank their ships and took them, four women and two children, aboard. The raider later seized a Yugoslav vessel and transferred the captives to it in October. They were landed on the Italian Somaliland coast on November 23. A j Scottish seaman, who like his com- \ panions was dirty, underfed and | clothed in rags, said the total number of persons transferred to the Yugoslav ship was 197 Britons, 20 other Europeans, mostly French, three Chinese, and 67 Indians, while the 37 members of the crew of the Yugoslav ship were also taken prisoner. “We were under guards witn machine-guns for a month,” he said. “We slept in the hold on a cargo of wet salt, with only a tarpaulin covering us. There was much hunger and we were so thirsty that we tried to catch rainwater. Breakfast consisted of thin gruel or thin cocoa,, and dinner of bean soup, tea, dry bread and a spoonful of jam. “The Italians kept us prisoner in a camp under most insanitary conditions. Ninety-seven were sent to hospital. Three Britons and a number of others died. I “The raider flew British, Japanese j and Dutch flags and had a Japanese I name. Some of the Britons were below decks for six weeks, but the women and children were well treated. They were afterward! transferred to a Norwegian vessel.” AUSTRALIAN WOOLS DEMAND IN UNITED STATES • United Press Assn.—tlec. fel. CopyrOrtH) (Received March 4, 11 a.m.) WASHINGTON. March 3 The Journal of Commerce reports that fair quantities of wool moved in the Boston market last week owing to the fact that there is a demand for Merino wools from Australia and South Africa.’ Australian fine wools were quoted at 98 to 102 cento for average topmaking and 102 to 105 cents for scoured, on the basis of the duty paid /or good topmaking G 4 s and 704.