STRATEGY IN THE PACIFIC

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23915, 6 April 1943, Page 4

STRATEGY IN THE PACIFIC

“Japan Will Get A Terrible Shock”

HON. W. NASH’S

VIEWS

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, April 5. “Merely to hold what we have in the Pacific and to wage little more than a defensive war against Japan until Germany has been defeated is not part of the strategy of the United Nations,” said the Hon. W. Nash, New Zealand Minister to the United States, on his return to the Dominion to-day. He hinted that unpleasant surprises were in store for the Japanese. He said he had seen for himself many links in the chain of island bases, and the growing strength of the United Nations facing Japan was clearly not directed at defence alone. . “To suggest that this should be just a holding war is wrong, and it is recognised as being wrong,” continued Mr Nash. "I am satisfied that the Japanese will get a terrible shock when everything that is being built up is unleashed against them. There is no doubt whatever that such a force is being built up.” It was a mistake, said Mr Nash, to imagine that we were putting all our strength into the war in Europe and leaving Japan until that was concluded. At the same time, it would be dangerous so to divide our forces between the European and Pacific fronts as to run the risk of being ineffective in both theatres.

In striking the, proper balance particular regard had to be given to our taking a full part with Russia in the struggle against Germany. Even so, there was no justification for believing that we would fight only a holding war against. Japan. Referring to the Pacific War Council, on which Mr Nash represents New Zealand, he said it had done a tremendously worthwhile job. It had been a means of keeping all the nations in the Pacific completely in touch with the situation and of giving them all an opportunity to state their cases very effectively. Aid to China China had been able to make herself heard, and to suggest that she was short of equipment because her pleas were ignored was unfair to the other countries. The real problem was to get equipment to China, and the Chinese representative with whom he had spoken had recognised the immense difficulties. It had to be done by air, and that involved far more than providing aeroplanes. When reminded of his advocacy of the formation of a supreme war council, Mr Nash said that the situation had improved to some extent. As far as the co-ordination of the war and peace aims of the United Nations was concerned, there was still much room for closer consultation. M. Molotov’s visit to Washington, Mr Churchill’s visit to Moscow, and the conference at Casablanca. to which M. Stalin had also been invited, had been steps in the right direction. “There are now mutual understandings and decisions as to where and when we are going to strike," Mr Nash added.