AMERICAN ATTITUDE AND THE PACIFIC

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 63, 11 September 1937, Page 8

AMERICAN ATTITUDE AND THE PACIFIC

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—May I be allowed to refer to 1 the report in your issue of Septem- j ber 6 on these and kindred subjects : and to commend Mr. R. H. Nimmo for . his public-spirited conduct in doing : everything possible on his recent visit to the Hawaiian Islands to further re- ] ciprocal trade and on his return to ; bring before the Wellington Chamber , of Commerce the claims of this port 1 to its fair share of trans-Pacific ship- 1 ping and trade? That Wellington in- , terests have been; neglected in the past i is only too clear. Instead of moaning . about the advent of American boats i to this country we ought to have wel- ( corned them and at the same time we . should have seen that alternate ships . called at Wellington, and not all at . some other New Zealand port. When ( I say we should have done so, I mean Wellington public men and merchants j should have done so, and, if Mr. Nimmo has had the courage to initiate the . movement then all credit to him. '

But there is another aspect of this matter which should not be overlooked and plain speaking is demanded. Suppose Great Britain is involved in a deadly struggle with some other nation, does anyone imagine she will have ships and other forces sufficient to come to our assistance if we are involved? We, and Australia, must see to it that every opportunity is taken to cultivate friendly relations with the people of the United States and Canada and all other peoples whose culture and ideals are most similar to bur own. If it is true, as stated in your issue of September 1, that Sir John Simon turned down suggestions as to the Pacific, then it is difficult to see that he did us a good turn.—l am, etc.;

LIBERTY FOR ALL.