FOR SURVIVAL

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 88, 15 April 1942, Page 8

FOR SURVIVAL

N.Z. AND THE WAR PLEDGE OF U.S. SUPPORT (P A.) WELLINGTON, this day. New Zcalanders are engaged in this war for their survival and for the perpetuation of their principles and way of life, said the United States Minister to New Zealand, General Patrick Hurley, in replying at a State luncheon to-day to a welcome by the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser. - l'rime Minister's "Welcome A welcome to Brigadier-General Hurley was extended by Mr. Fraser on behalf of the people and Government of New Zealand. It was the first time, said Mr. Fraser, that an American Minister had ' been welcomed to the Dominion. BrigadierGeneral Hurley was welcomed as a distinguished American citizen, as an eminent statesman and as a gallant soldier. He was also welcomed as a staunch friend, as an intrepid fighter for freedom and as a representative of the United States and of President Roosevelt.

"In welcoming you I speak for our citizens, who cherish a belief in democratic rights, privileges and advantages," added Mr. Fraser. "We are proud to belong to the British Commonwealth of Nations. We were never prouder of the land from which we sprang than when we saw the whole British nation, from the King and Queen to the humblest citizen, undaunted amid the debris of their cities and homes, turn determinedly to the gigantic task of organising for total" war." New Zealand was grateful, said Mr. Fraser, for the staunch comradeship of the United States, and not merely for material assistance New Zealanders generally would agree with him in saying that the thankfulness in our hearts was due to the spiritual force America had brought to the cause of liberty and justice. At the same time we knew that America's great industry was working 24 hours daily turning out the means, unfortunately the only means, of man's salvation—armaments, tanks, planes and ships. "In this hour I come to you from your kinspeople across the mighty Pacific Ocean, from the greatest republic on earth, from the land of liberty, to say to you that your principles are our principles,'and your cause is our cause, and, as token of our faith in the victory of that cause, to pledge the resources, lives, honour and power of 130,000.000 Americans," he added. Meeting Japan's Challenge Describing New Zealanders as a great people with great leaders General Hurley said they always sought to solve their problems by the application of the golden rule Throughout their splendid historv New Zealanders had alwavs upheld the rights of mankind to life liberty, justice and the pursuit of happiness. The Japanese had challenged the freedom of the Pacific Ocean and the liberties and wav of , ~o f a " P ea ceful nations. This challenge could not be met bv words. The solution of the conflict between free peoples and Japan would be found onlv in mortal conflict We must attack, defeat and destroy the autocracy of Japan in battle upon land, upon the sea under the sea and in the air In face of this fact, it seemed-futile for us to continue to debate political economic, social and diplomatic objectives, because all these objectives would be lost if we lost the war All our objectives must be to coordinate to bring the full strength of the free peoples to bear on the paramount objectives of to-day the defeat of the enemy in battle. The fighting men must be sunported by the mobilisation of all °y v industrial and productive strength at home. The enemy had make this a total war. Every individual, whether a leader of industry a manager of commerce, a worker in a factory, in the field, or unloading a ship—in fact, all leaders managers and workers—were tighth*i£f» and if they shirked they were breaking faith with the soldier who cued in battle. Sustained applause and cheerin" marked the conclusion of BrigadiersGeneral Hurley's speech. The function ended with the singing of the National Anthem.