A REAL PARTNERSHIP

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 68, 18 September 1944, Page 4

A REAL PARTNERSHIP

There could be no more striking evidence of the great resoufces now at the. disposal of the United Nations than, the joint statement issued by President Roosevelt and Mr. Churchill at the conclusion of their conference in Quebec. With, the war in Europe "now approaching -its final stages," the two leaders have been able to turn their attention to the task of bringing Japan to her knees in the quickest possible time. Today the problem is no longer to gather sufficient forces and material to ensure victory, but, in the words of the communique, "to find room and opportunity for the marshalling against Japan of the massive forces which each and all of the nations concerned are ardent to engage against the enemy." The decisions at Quebec have just as surely sealed the ultimate fate of Japan as decisions at an earlier conference sealed the fate of Germany. In characteristic fashion, Mr. Churchill has removed in a way that cannot be misunderstood any doubts which may have been mistakenly held about the part that Great Britain and the other nations of the British Commonwealth will play in the struggle against Japan. "Everything of the British Army, Air Force, and Navy that can move to the Pacific will be applied against Japan," he declared. In their spheres of the European war the forces of the United States and Great Britain have stood shoulder to shoulder, and they will continue to do so in the final assault against the Pacific aggressor. In the statement of President and Prime Minister there is nothing to minimise the magnitude of the task ahead, but there is everything to inspire the greatest confidence in the final outcome. As one nation whose future prosperity and security are dependent on ..the unconditional surrender of Japan and her subordination to the will of the United Nations, New Zealand

will be called upon to play her part in future operations in the Pacific area. If this country's contribution is to be fully effective, it will be necessary for the people, as Air Vice-Marshal Isitt emphasised last night, to steel themselves for continued effort and sacrifice. Thus, and thus only, can victory be made doubly sure.