PACIFIC PACT DESIRABLE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 69, Issue 76, 10 January 1949, Page 3

PACIFIC PACT DESIRABLE

New Zealand Premier’s

View

MENACE TO DEMOCRATIC NATIONS SEEN (N.Z.P. A.—Copyright) OTTAWA, Jan. 9. Interviewed here, the Rt. Hon. Peter Nash said: “If the need arose for the democratic nations in the Pacific to stand together, I am sure we would see a Pacific Pact developing along the lines of the Atlantic Pact which is shaping up now. Such a pact would obviously include New Zealand, Australia, Britain, Canada, the United States, Mexico and certain Central and South American nations.”

Mr Fraser added, however: “There have been no official discussions on the subject of a Pacific Pact. There have been discussions within the British. Commonwealth on the subject of Pacific defence, but no decisions have been taken.

“Meanwhile, we in New Zealand regrettfully are increasing our defence expenditures, because of Russia’s attitude, at a time when we would he much more glad to cut defence spending. I would say that at the moment it is important, but not urgent, that the democratic nations with interests in the Pacific should keep one another posted on defence measures. Naturally we in New Zealand are very close to Australia and the United Kingdom in this matter.”

Mr Fraser said it was not clear to him just how much of a menace to the democratic nations was caused by the Chinese Communists. He said: “I am not satisfied as to just how strong the Communists are in China. They appear to be directing the revolutionary forces, hut whether these forces are truly Communist seems to he open to question. In any case we don’t like to see the Communists becoming strongly established in China, hut actually this is a matter for the Chinese people. The advance of the Communists in China will have a disturbing effect on the other Pacific nations, but not a decisive effect at this stage.” Paying tribute to the United States and Canada for their aid to Britain, Mr Fraser said: “New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa are helping, too, hut nothing that any of us can do will ever repay the United Kingdom for 1940, when Hitler stood at the gates,and they saved the world for freedom. No matter what we do we will still be in their debt. Some countries seem to he forgetting that.” Discussing the Atlantic Pact, Mr Fraser said: “We are completely in favour of this Pact and regard it as a masterpiece of diplomatic policy initiated by Mr Bevin. We hope that other Western nations will join when the Pact is set up.”

Restoration of Trade

Dealing with efforts to restore world trade, Mr Fraser said: “We appreciate the generous assistance Canada has given to the United Kingdom. As for the United States, I- regard the Marshall Plan as the most constructive rehabilitation scheme the world has ever known.” Mr Fraser said he could see no further reduction in New Zealand purchases from Canada. “They are at a minimum now,” he said. “We have to have motor-cars and transport.” He said there were plans afoot to make pulp and paper in New Zealand, but it would be too early to say what might come of them. Discussing Commonwealth relations, he said: “We want to do all we can to help Eire in the course that she has chosen to follow. I would say that both in Eire and in India there exists a greater feeling of friendship for Britain and the British Commonwealth than ever in our lifetime or before. I hope that the remaining difficulties between Eire and North,ern Ireland can he solved in a peaceful and friendly way.”