WAR COULD COME HERE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 17, 20 January 1940, Page 8

WAR COULD COME HERE

Bred in tho isolated atmosphere of New Zealand, some people still take the unthinking and comfortable view that, happen what may, the war can never come to this country. For them—and unfortunately there are many —the remarks made at Otahuhu yesterday by the Hon. P. Eraser convey a timely warning. If Holland were despoiled, he said, another Power —not Germany—would take the Dutch East Indies. If Britain fell— and this is the point for unthinking 2Sew Zealanders —the fate of the Dutch possessions would be shared by this Dominion. "If Britain crashes, what protection will New Zealand have?" he asked. This is a warning given by one who, having just returned from close consultation with the Imperial authorities, must be considered to speak with the greatest authority of anyone in this country. This is a war of rapidly changing diplomatic moves. Even yet, though the war is nearly five months old, no one knows where all the interested nations stand. Even more difficult is any prophecy of what may happen in the future. Interest now centres in Scandinavian but even there the issues arc broader than the struggle of Finland against Russia. And if something more than speculation has been directed towards such places as the Balkans, the Near and Middle East, and even India, who shall make the didactic statement that the war cannot possibly spread to the Pacific'? It. is well to realise that any threat against Holland is also a threat against the Pacific, if only because in the Dutch Indies are some of tlie richest islands in the world. The warning given by Mr. Eraser must not be ignored. Nor must his advice: a unified war effort ill support of Great Britain.