Greymouth Evening Star. SATURDAY, MAY 15, 1943. PUSH IN PACIFIC.

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 May 1943, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. SATURDAY, MAY 15, 1943. PUSH IN PACIFIC.

JT would appear that as Australia had but a minor part in the Tunisian triumph, her publicists are featuring the Washington talks, espee/ially where a Pacific offensive is concerned. As usual, skittles are being set up, fo be knocked down, but, so far, nothing official has been announced about the Allies’ plans. New Zealand, meamvhile, remains calm, her Minister at Washington (Mr. Nash) who might otherwise have been in the picture, being busy at Wellington, on his duties as Finance It is not inevitable that the Dominion’s interests will suffer at Washington because of Air. Nash’s absence, but the fact that he is not there demonstrates again that no one man should hold two such responsible posts. Like Stalin and Chiang Kai-shek, doubtless .Mr. Nash is being kept informed of the progress of the Roosevelt-Churchill discussions and decisions.

There is little reason to question the journalistic assertions that “more ginger” is to be put into the offensive against Japan, not because of the Press agitation, but because the Allies are now in a position to take a stronger line. The main purpose will continue to be the defeat of Hitler, but some of the reserve strength will be allocated to Pacific and Chinese requirements. The monsoon will delay major operations in Burma, but there is likelihood that the Northern Pacific will become an area of increasing activity. Reports come from the U.S.A, that Russia may modify her neutrality towards Japan, by permitting territorial bases to be used by Allied aircraft. This idea should not. be accepted until the permission materialises. Russia, is not yet in a position to invite war with Japan, and will act cautiously, meanwhile. The absence of a Russian representative at the Washington talks may be due to the Russian desire to avoid being embroiled in negotiations for an offensive against Japan. Russian policy is invariably realistic.

The meeting of General MacArthhur and Admiral Halsey appears to have cleared away any misunderstandings regarding the command in the South-Wes-

tern Pacific, and from now on full cooperation will be emphasised. Australian demands for firmer and quicker action against the Japanese, if not justified Io the extent displayed, were not without grounds. Ncav Zealand. —which did not share the Commonwealth’s serious misgivings about die Japanese menace, once die F.S.A. naval and aerial gains were made, —will be glad that her neighbour feels hajipier about the Pacific outlook, and will no longer adhere to die “nobody-loves-me” altitude. The Australian troops and airmen are doing magnificent work in New Guinea and elsewhere, and it was no compliment to them for those at home to tell the world so often that Australia, might be conquered by the Japanese. There was never any real danger of that, although temporary invasion and casual raids were possibilities, in the early stages of the war in the Pacific. Happily, the outlook is different to-day, and will improve further as the months pass.