Security in the Pacific

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 93, 14 January 1936, Page 11

Security in the Pacific

Sir, —1 have by your courtesy called attention to the danger in the Pacific, and also to the weakness of the White Australia of a few years ago, when insults were freely flung at Japanese and Italian residents in the Pacific lands. Now that the need of protection is becoming more apparent, it will probably be the same old cry: Britain will protect these colonies and Dominions as long as she considers it worth while, but the gist of the whole matter is, can she? As I pointed out in your columns years ago it only needs Britain to be involved in a European mess, that will tie her fleet in -home or European waters, and the Pacific possessions of hers will be at the mercy of those whom we have grossly insulted in the past. Sir, as I have emphasised in your paper repeatedly, the only sound policy for Australia and also New Zealand is to populate these lands with British people, not to continue to act the dog in the manger as we have in the past, with our immigration restriction Acts, discouraging the few hardy spirits who ventured to these shores, so that a percentage of them returned to the Old Country, absolutely “fed up,” to use a comprehensive phrase. Why, after all, should British taxpayers be supposed to be solely responsible for our defence? We never have yet paid our just share of the cost of insurance, and then have had the audacity to debar the very people who wore paying for our defence the right to land ynd live in these Pacific possessions! Once again". Sir. i reiterate, population, i and more population, and British.—l am. I etc.. "JOHN BULL.” I Wellington, January 11. ,