TRADE PACT URGED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 77, 13 January 1936, Page 6

TRADE PACT URGED.

AMERICA AND DOMINIONS. (Per Pres 9 Association.) AUCKLAND, January 11. Only the attitude of New Zealand prevents the drawing up of a Pacific pact among the United States oi America, Canada, Australia and the Dominion to ensure mutual protection and improve trade relations, according to Mr A. Wetjen, an American author and journalist, who is on his way back to the States by the Mariposa. The other throe parties, he said, were very keen to sign a pact as a safeguard against the Japanese commercial and colonising methods, and possible Japanese aggression. The Dominion Government, however, insisted that such a pact should include Great Britain, and this America -would not agree to. The States would not be bound by treaty with any European country, as a minor European squabble might involve it in war. “Europe is dead on its feet, and a hard push would topple it over. The destiny of Australia and New Zealand lies m the Pacific, and their interests are more closely bound with those of America than those of outworn Europe. Canada has realised that, and so has Australia, and a pact would Do signed hut for New Zealand’s clinging to Britain. Yet in the event of war in the Pacific it will lie America, not Britain, who will protect the Dominion. Britain is too far off, and has her hands full of European affairs.”