IN ALLIED RANKS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 200, 25 August 1942, Page 3

IN ALLIED RANKS

FELLOWSHIP SEALED

Brazil's Action Provides Vast Reserves Against Axis

Rec. 11.30 a.m.

LONDON, Aug. 24

Brazil's accession to the ranks of the United Nations, fighting for freedom, is welcomed in England for both its moral and strategical significance. Brazil's fellowship with the United. Nations has for a long time been sealed by every sort of engagement short of an alliance of war, and Germany's and Italy's enmity against Brazil has been shown by hostile acts which amounted to war without declaration, The Times writes.

It adds that Brazilian resources have been available to the Allies for some time and our new ally is consequently eligible for a share in the combined resources of the United Nations for defence requirements. The United Nations would profit enormously from the accession to their cause of 46,000,000 Brazilians and the moral importance of Brazil's entry into the war would not be the least of her offerings. It would give strength to the Allies as they entered the fourth year of war and stiffen South America against the Axis. The Manchester Guardian comments that President Vargas has shown that even dictatorship with totalitarian leanings could be American first and prefer to stand with the democracies. Brazil's harbours could play a large part in the campaign against submarines, and her air bases could be developed for the transatlantic ferry.

The Yorkshire Post suggests that Germany may have provoked Brazil to war because she is not a strongly militarised country and the convoying of her shipping would throw an extra burden on the British and United States Navies. Immediate Action Against Enemy It has been learned in New York that, as Brazil entered the war, Brazilian Air Force pilots arrived at Rio de Janeiro after a successful mass fiight from the United States with 44 new American planes. The flight consisted of 25 Fairchild primary trainers and 19 cabin monoplanes, which replace the obsolete German Focke Wulf trainers. After the introduction of the new trainers Brazil will commence the production of American aircraft in the Government factory. Brazilian planes have been sent to investigate a secret airfield built by the Germans in the city of Goyaz, about 600 miles from Rio de Janeiro. They are now also hunting three German U-boats sighted off the Brazilian coast. Uruguayan planes are reported to be taking part in the search. The Times says the United Nations will profit enormously from the accession to their cause of the 46,000,000 Brazilians. The smaller Central American republics delivered their declaration of war within a few days of the Pearl Harbour attacks. Mexico joined in at the end of May. Now the vast and populous Brazilian republic has joined the ranks of those who are resolved to end the Nazi claim to world dominion. The Montevideo correspondent of the New York Times says that Uruguay has granted Brazil all the rights of a non-belligerent. This enables Brazilian warships and planes to use Uruguayan facilities as in peace-time. Officials emphasise that this is only the first of several steps Uruguay intends to take to give tangible expression of her solidarity with Brazil. It is officially stated in Lima that Peru considers the Axis attacks on Brazil shipping as a grave threat to the South American republics. Accordingly Brazilian shipping has been given the use of Peruvian ports. Uruguay and the Argentine have decided on similar action. Chile is also reported to be taking action against the Axis. The Portuguese Cabinet after discussing Brazil's declaration of war I sent a message to the Brazilian Government expressing the moral solidarity of the Portuguese with their Brazilian sister people in the attitude they have taken up in defence of what they consider to be their honour and rights.

The Prime Minister of Canada, Mr. W. L. Mackenzie King, in a message to President Vargas, said Brazil's entry will give fresh encouragement to the United Nations.

The first move for consolidating the countries of the American continents, since the opening of the second World Wai was made on January 15 of this year, when the Foreign Ministers of a!! the American Republics met for conference in Rio de Janeiro. The conference was instigated by the United States, and met to discuss the combined policy of the American nations toward the Axis countries following on Japan's entry into the war.

At the ertd of the month the delegates of all the 21 American Republics signed the final act for the severance of diplomatic, commercial and financial relations with the Axis, making the Western Hemisphere as watertight as possible for economic and military defence in event of an Axis attack on the United States. On his return, Mr. Sumner Welles, who was leader of the United States delegation to the conference, said that he was entirely satisfied with the results of his mission. The meeting of the American Foreign Ministers, he said, was the most vital that had been held. Great u*»ity had been achieved, and everything was running in the right direction.