AMERICAN AUTHOR’S MISSION

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 279, 22 August 1944, Page 4

AMERICAN AUTHOR’S MISSION

New Post In Wellington PREVIOUS VISIT TO NEW ZEALAND Commenting that he did not come as a member of the diplomatic service. Mr. Sydney Greenbie, who hag arrived in Wellington from the United States as chief of the Office of War Information for New Zealand, and as special assistant to the American Minister, Mr. Patton, informed “The Dominion” yesterday that he represented the people. He was here to talk to the people of the Dominion, find out what they thought, and what their interests were; also to share with H-W-n experiences in the United States. Between them, Mr. and Mrs. Greenbie, who is also a well-known writer, have written 2S books dealing with such subjects as popular psychology, ’, the essentials of living, and art of leisure. Mrs. Greenbie wrote “The American Saga,” a story of the contributions made to the American way of thinking. Both intend to write about New Zealand. They are anxious to meet writers, artists, and representatives of all the professions. This Dominion is familiar territory to Mr. Greenbie, who claims to have tramped every inch of it when on a visit here some 25 years ago. Mr. Greenbie said he had a very warm affection, which he had cherished all through the years, for New Zealand. He carried persona] messages from 25 to 30 New Zealanders in America. He intended to meet their mothers and families, and tell them about their sons. He had brought with him a number of records made by New Zealand servicemen in the United States. Two-Way Interest. There had, said Mr. Greenbie, been a stimulated interest among prospective United States migrants to New Zealand. He was convinced that many of the American soldiers who had contracted those delightful marriages with girls of this Dominion, would ultimately come back to New Zealand. Mr. Greenbie said he was here to examine the problem of publicity and how news could be channelled between New Zealand and the United States. He thought there could be much more direct information, and representation of New Zealand news in America. There was’ a tremendous interest between women, said Mr. Greenbie, and he wanted to see them closer as people to people in their relative development. To make that possible, he had prised his wife loose from her own activities and brought her with him as a consultant. He hoped to bring to New Zealand a better understanding of the world of the American woman, and vice versa.' Plans were being made under which it was hoped to establish scholarship or fellowship funds, financed from the United States, for the exchange of students on a similar .basis to that operating with Latin America. Though it was outside of his province, said Mr. Greenbie, his personal feeling was strongly in favour of a reciprocal trade (itjreement between New Zealand and the United States, with all it involved. He wns decidedly of the opinion that an exchange of products was absolutely essential to an exchange of cultural interests. He saw no reason why a big trade relationship should not be promoted between New Zealand aud America. . Dealing With Japan. Mr. Greenbie, who is a specialist in Pacific affairs, and six of whose IS books deal with the Pacific and the Far East, lived for three years in Japan. He said that primarily and strategically' it was realized that New Zealand and Australia were the key to the Pacific. He had pointed out in his book, “The Pacific Triangle,” 25 years ago that they were one of the angles of that triangle. ■“I had my fingers crossed and prayed for you people when there was a danger of Japan coming down here,” he said. “If Japan had succeeded in gaining a foothold in this part, it would have been a very serious matter for the -whole world. ■ 1 “I believe in hitting Japan as hard and fast as we can,” added Mr. Greenbie, but. he.said, that was for the army to determine. Japan would always be a potential menace and had to be brought to her knees. However, the problem of dealing with her was made easier by the fact that her industrial life was dependent on the materials she obtained from outside sources. By curtailing or cutting her access to basic materials for war purposes, Japan could lie prevented from, becoming a menace. That could be done in a manner which would still leave her with her industries, but without the capacity to make war. . Mr. Greenbie was born in Dakota, tn flic heart of the Middle West. Mrs. Greenbie comes from New Jersey. They have a 150-acre property in Maine, where they farm 22 acres of hay meadow. 100 apple trees, ICO acres of timber for pulping, and grow beaus and potatoes,