British-American Axis in the Pacifie Inevitable

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 13271, 22 February 1941, Page 3

British-American Axis in the Pacifie Inevitable

(Copyright by P.P.S.) The reported exchange of diplomatic representatives between New Zealand and America simultaneous with Roosevelt’s order establishing many islands in the Pacific as defence areas barred to shipping and aircraft, the strengthening of the base in American Samoa, and many other military items of American activity in the Pacific, following so rapidly one after another, are a definite indication that America will go the whole way with Britain should Japan strike at any point vital to British or American interests. The matters are gathering like a snowball. Even to-day we can predict an identity of these interests. As soon as the Bill of Aid to Britain is rushed through and becomes a law, the genius of stage-managing, Roosevelt, will brush the isolationists aside by bribing his potential opponents with high offices: this strategy is Roosevelt’s idea of a National Government. The Yankees are a dynamic crowd. In the past a political career was often a matter of dollars. To-day it is power—and Roosevelt can offer power to the energetic and ambitious ones. Alone, Roosevelt cannot very well dictate to the individualistic Yankees the morale of democratic discipline: therefore he is surrounding himself with experts, felloAV-dic-tators.

The next step of Roosevelt administration is to innoculate America with a fever, a drive for production at neck-breaking speed. Britain knows that if she fights like a jungle full of lions for the next six months, Roosevelt will do the rest. He is quite capable of creating a psychological phenomenon, a contagious enthusiasm at least of the masses. He will probably win over the radio-cor-porations and the most influential section of the Press to launch a propaganda war. Nothing gives to American journalists such a zest for life as can-sized head-lines. The labour will be definitely pro-Roose-velt, because he is upholding their rights for unionism, minimum wages, and other awards. Lord Halifax, the Morgan banking octopus and the powerful steel and other armament trusts, are in conclave with emissaries of Montague Norman who is the Bank of England. Of coures there are powerful sections of industrialists and financiers who hate Roosevelt’s reforms, others who are pro-Fascist, pro-German. Yes, this section could dp a lot of harm. But among the population of Italian and German descent are real democrats who will act as a brake to sabotage. In any case Roosevelt is organizing a great secret service army. His Administration has experience in this line. The American Fifth Column has very long and tough tentacles stretching from Canadian borders through Mexico right down to Patagonia. But the developments in the Pacific, the speeches of Japanese Ministers, Admirals, and Generals, are working into Roosevelt’s hands, and are rousing the public opinion.

Anyone who know’s the history of the Yellow Danger, so assiduously propagated in America for decades, wall testify to the Yankee dislike of the Japanese and to their having a soft spot for the Chinese. For twenty years America officially championed Chinese national aspirations, seeing in China a potential market. Now, the European markets closed to America, and a prospect of Japanese domination of the Asiatic and South Sea markets plus a danger of destruction of the British markets, all these make the aiiti-totalitariSn policy of America, inevitable. Besides, ■ the most potent argument for Roosevelt’s policy, the Monroe Doctrine, would not he worth a tin of fish should Britain lose the war. The Latin Republics are all semi-fascists. It would be almost impossible for America to prevent their alliance with the victorious Axis. Finally, there are millions of unemployed in America. Many businesses are on the border of starvation. Others swallowed by larger combines- living on non-pro-ductiev financial juggling in Wall Street. A gigantic- armament drive is a reconized panacea for economic troubles. Millions will get jobs with good wages, thousands of factories will he making at least moderate profits. If Britain survives the next six months, wfiiich she most definitely will, we shall see the British monarchical Empire and the rer.ubkenn America a peculiar, but nevertheless real, economic unit, the most powerful the w r orld has ever seen. Au America whispers to-day; “if Britpin and America go together they will eo the whole hog. Everything else is moonshine ...”