BRITAIN'S PLEDGE

Evening Star, Issue 24429, 15 February 1943, Page 4

BRITAIN'S PLEDGE

THE ATMOSPHERE CLEARED NEW YORK, February 13. While bo comment is' yet to hand from Chungking on President Roosevelt's speecn, Chinese newspapers are reported to have expressed disappointment at Mr Churchill's statement, of r the Allies' intention to leave large- ' scale action against Japan until Germany is beaten. Significantly the 'China Times' says: "The next United Nations conference, to be held in nine months' time in Asia, will probably include more persons, than Mr Roosevelt,. Mr Churchill, and the British and American experts." The ' New York Times ' offers the following editorial ' comment of Mr Churchill's-' speech:—"Mr Churchill's pledge of Britain's• full might, to. defeat Japan kills another canard. There has been pseudo-knowledgable buzzing in China and America- that Britain would leave America to carry on the Paeiiic war alone as soon as Germany was crushed. It is a variant of the old theme of pulling British chestnuts out of the fire. Anyone familiar with British psychology and politics would know that this insinuation was ridiculous. It is fortunate that Mr 'Churchill brought this nastv business into the open a"nd dispersed it for good." It _is reported that, after his speech, President Roosevelt went into conference with liis chiefs of staff, including Admiral Leahy, General Marshall, and Admiral King. The topic of the conference was not disclosed.