PACIFIC SECURITY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 302, 28 September 1940, Page 5

PACIFIC SECURITY.

NEW ZEALAND PLAYS A PART.

A BIG CONTRIBUTION.

NEW! YORK, September 26

The ' British Ambassador to the United States (Lord Lothian), in a Dominion. Day speech at the Now Zealand pavilion at the World’s Fair, warned the dictators not- to move gagainst Singapore, the Dutch East Indies, or islands in the Southern Pacific, for they would meet formidable opposition from the growing strength of Australia and New Zealand.

New Zealand had sent 23,000 soldiers overseas, and had 400 officers and men in the New Zealand. Air Force. Under the. Empire air training scheme she would provide 880 trained pilots. Australia had 20 air squadrons, and 33,000 men had already gone overseas. Lord Lothian said that some regarded Australia and New Zealand as isolated nations looking for help from outside. It was true that both relied mainly on the British Navy for longdistance defence, but they were able to contribute much for the security of the Pacific from their own strength. New Zealand had inaugurated half a century ago many social reforms which were now commonplace in every modern democracy. New Zealand had not succumbed to the philosophy of pacifism in international affairs and preoccupation in individual -comfort, which had rotted many democracies. Her effort was greater than even in the World War to defend free civilisation against totalitarian aggression. Lord Lothian outlined the war efforts of New Zealand and Australia and recalled that the Achilles was manned by New Zealanders.