AMERICAN USE OF BASES

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23882, 26 February 1943, Page 5

AMERICAN USE OF BASES

STATEMENT MADE BYi MR NASH I

DEFENSIVE SYSTEM IN PACIFIC

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON. Feb. H The New Zealand Minister to Washington iMr W. Nash), in a statement to the press, said he thought New Zealand would' be willing to grant the United States permanent use of air and naval bases, as part of a mutual defensive system in the Pacific. He believed the Government would be willing to discuss this with all the nations concerned before the end of the war, as an important step towards giving effect to the Atlantic Charter, The countries concerned were New Zealand, Australia, the Netherlands Britain, China, India, and the United States.

Mr Nash said that any such arrangements must necessarily be on a reciprocal basis, calling for a general contribution by each nation in keeping with its size and interest in the Pacific area. . . . « . According to the Associated Press ol America. Mr Nash was expressing hj personal views. He said he was' not committing his Government.

AIRFIELDS FOE U.S. FORCES

REPORTED CHARGE Bf NEW ZEALAND

DENIAL BY CHIEF OP AIR STAFF \ WELLINGTON, February The statement by Mr Melvin S, Maas, before the Foreign Affairs Committee of the United States House of Representatives, ‘‘That New Zealand has built 105 airfields for the United States and charged the entire cost to the United States under the reverse lease-lend” was described as entirely incorrect by the Chief of the Air Staff (Air Commodore R. V. Goddard) in ft statement this evening. “I know Mr Maas, having met him in the Islands after he had decided to give up military service and return to politics.” said Air Commodore Goddard. “Although I have not yet seen the whole text of what Mr Maas saidj knowing Mr Maas, I am not surprised at the report. It is, however, entirely incorAct and highly misleading." Air Commodore Goddard said he presumed that Mr Maas was referring to airfields built in New Zealand during the last 10 years and more. Not one of these fields, even the most modern, was built under lease-lend arrangements. Certain airfields outside New Zealand in the islands were built by New Zealand engineers for the Americans. Certain airfields in New Zealand had been constructed or improved to meet United States requirements. but not one under lease-lend arrangements so far. .. ~ “I heard Mr Maas make similarly exaggerated, statements regarding the Australian forces, though on that occasion the exaggeration did not magnify the Australian achievements. I refuted his statements then, as I do now.” -