PACIFIC COMMAND

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 162, 22 April 1942, Page 5

PACIFIC COMMAND

“NO CONFUSION ABOUT POST.” PREMIER ON ALLIED TASKS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, April 21. “There is some talk in the newspapers about some confusion about the command in the South-western and South Pacific,’ said the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. p. Fraser), speaking at a. civic welcome given to BrigadierGeneral Patrick Hurley, the United States Minister to New Zealand. “There is no confusion either in London or Washington, nor is there in Wellington or Canberra. These matters. have been well thought out and studied. “Two questions have received close attention and study from the General Staff in London and ill Washington. The first is the question of how the onward rush of the Japanese toward the South-west and South Pacific can be effectively stemmed, and how can Australia and how can our own country be so adequately equipped for defence that any threat of invasion can be repelled, and the invader hurled back in complete and absolute defeat. “The boundaries of the various, commands have been arranged accordingly, and the commands, so far as New Zealand is concerned, will be announced very early from Washington. “The second consideration and proposal, however, arises from the fact that it is not in the nature of those who are striving for freedom to agree to remain on the defensive. That will not win for us. It niay save our country, but it is not enough. “However immediate and urgent the question of the defence of Britain, the Middle East, India, Burma, Australia, and New Zealand, and the islands of the Pacific may be, that is not what dominates the minds and fires the sou! of the people of the democratic countries. It is not defensive but offensive action that they are giving most thought to at the present moment. “In Washington, London, Canberra, Wellington, and Ottawa, so far as the Pacific goes, and in Chungking, too, the best brains and most skilled strategists and naval, military, and air technicians are considering how, from these shores of ours and from the shores of our fellow Commonwealth across the Tasman, will go forth in due course, equipped as never before, armies, fleets, and air forces, to the reconquest of the Pacific for democracy and freedom, not to halt until the flag of freedom flies over even the despotic and tyrannical nations that dared to threaten us.” ,

NEW ZEALAND’S POSITION. CLEAR STATEMENT URGED. CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. A call to the Prime Minister to release without delay an authoritative statement oil whether New Zealand was included in the Supreme Command of General Douglas MacArthur was made last night by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr S. G. Holland, M.P.). In an interview, Mr Holland referred to the confusion in the minds of New Zealanders as a result of conflicting messages which, lie said, could be cleared immediately by a complete statement by Mr Fraser. “Nothing is more vital to New Zealand at the present time than a clear understanding of our position and influence in the higher direction of the war, specially in the Pacific,” said -'lr Holland, “and it is the urgent and clear responsibility of the Prime Minis ter to make an authoritative statement showing exactly where Now Zealand stands. Messages have been received from Mr Curtin, the Prime Minister of the Australian Commonwealth, stating that New Zealand was excluded from this sphere of General MacArthur’s supreme command. Only y s terday Mr Curtin, in a letter to General MacArthur, said: ‘ You have received a charter as supreme commander not only , from your own Government but from the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands ; and the, same message said that the south-west Pacific defence area had been constituted effective by agreement among the Governments of Australia, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the United States. New Zealand was not mentioned. “On the other hand, we have our own Prime Minister’s generalisation that there is no mystification as to New Zealand’s position, and that we come under the supreme direction of General MacArthur and all that that means. An immediate clarification is due the public of New Zealand.” Mr Holland said lie was aware of certain negotiations which had taken place; but now that the posit'on bad been clarified so far as Australia was concerned a full statement from Mr Fraser would be welcomed in N**-.v Zealand, if negotiations had now reach'd the stage where such a statement could in the public interest be made publicly. “Another most important question is that of New Zealand Ministerial representation in Australia,” said Mr Holland. “This position has hung fire far too long already and should be decided without further delay. It would he interesting to know who acted for New Zealand during the negotiations just concluded.”