MR FRASER RETURNS

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23745, 17 September 1942, Page 4

MR FRASER RETURNS

Consultations In U.S. “VERY GRATIFYING RESULTS” (P.A.) AUCKLAND, September 16. “The results of my consultations with representatives of the Governments and armed forces of the United Nations have been extremely gratifying.’’ said the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser), who arrived in Auckland today on his return from the United States after a visit to Washington at the invitation of Mr Roosevelt. Mr Fraser returned by air and left immediately for Wellington by train. The Prime Minister said he had had full discussions with Mr and with the Ambassadors for Britain (Lord Halifax), for Russia (M. Litvinov). and for China (Dr. Soong). He had had conversations on the strategic situation with General George Marshall, Chief of Staff of the United States Army, and Admiral E. J. King, Commander-in-Chief of the United States Atlantic and Pacific Fleets. The situation in the Pacific had been dealt with in these discussions, said Mr Fraser, but he refused to comment further on the subject. The exient of United States war production, of which he had been given full information, was extremely cheering, said Mr Fraser. He had discussed the supply of munitions, aircraft, and shipping with Mr Donald Nelson, Priorities Director and chairman of the War Production Board, and with Mr Harry Hopkins, Lease-Lend Administrator. As a result, some adjustments had been made in the lease-lend arrangements. The United Nations had cause to be most grateful to Mr Roosevelt for the initiation of the lease-lend, policy, which had already substantially assisted mutual aid between New Zea-' land and the United States. Synthetic rubber production was also discussed with Mr Nelson, but Mr Fraser preferred not to comment on the likelihood of New Zealand receiving assistance in this direction. The Prime Minister praised the work of the New Zealand Minister in Washington (the' Hon. W. Nash). Mr Fraser was met on his arrival by the Deputy-Prime Minister (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) and Mr= Fraser.