SOLIDLY BEHIND BRITAIN'S FIGHT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 236, 4 October 1940, Page 8

SOLIDLY BEHIND BRITAIN'S FIGHT.

AMERICAN SUPPORT.

Republican Candidate's Viewpoint.

United Press Association.—Copyright.

(Recd. 11 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Oct. 3

Political and diplomatic quarters are interested in the endorsement by. Mr. Wendell Willkie, Republican candidate for the Presidency, in an alleged interview with the "Christian Science Monitor," of the immediate extension of joint Anglo-American defence co-operation in the Pacific, and his favouring negotiations to secure bases at Singapore and in Australia for the United States.

Mr. Willkie is reported to have added: "I am prepared to exert to the full my leadership of the Republican party to facilitate prompt action. The Axis threat in Asia has increased my conviction that the United States must aid Britain to the utmost. If' Britain fails we will be - utterly and savagely alone. . We must send, and keep on sending, aid to Britain, our first line of defence and our only remaining '$T*;- ; "jf"' * ~*s The "Monitor" comments that Mr. Willkie gave the impression that he regards American and British interests in the Far East ae synonymous.

The "New York Times" Cleveland correspondent, however, says Mr. Willkie stated that he gave no interview to the "Monitor." He declined in any way to supplement his public pronouncements regarding the acquisition of bases in the Pacific, which he favours.

He added that if elected President he would continue his efforts to aid the heroic British, who were the only people in the world to-day fighting for their lives and liberty.

"I would aid Britain even it meant the sacrifice of some speed in the building of our own air fleet," he declared, adding: "The longer Britain holds out the more time we will have to prepare." U.S. Navy May Visit Antipodes. It ia announced that the United States Navy is reorganising 125 warships in the Atlantic into a new patrol force, which will include units of the Atlantic Squadron, aircraft forces and the neutrality patrol. Rear-Admiral Hayne Ellis, commander-in-chief of the Atlantic Squadron, will take command. Having all the ships in the Atlantic under one commander will result in increased efficiency in operations and training.

The Secretary of the Navy, Colonel W. F. Snox, told journalists that the suggestion of a naval goodwill cruise to New Zealand and Australia was a good idea. No decision regarding such a cruise had been reached.