U.S.A. PACIFIC POLICY

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 December 1944, Page 6

U.S.A. PACIFIC POLICY

CONGRESSMEN’S VIEWS LONG WAR PREDICTED WASHINGTON, December 28. Ten Members of a House Naval Affairs Sub-Committee have returnied from a 25,000 mile Pacific tour. {The New York Daily News says: I They have returned in a mood of I chastened realism. They regard as {urgently necessary: (1) A Pacific Charter to set a course of policy for six of the United Nations having a Pacific empire, namely, the United States, England, New Zealand, Australia, France, and Holland. (2) A clarification of the issue of self-de-termination for Pacific natives. (3) The early adoption by the United Nations of a Pacific policy on which the United States can develop plans for post-war bases. Representative Ploester, one of the Congressmen who visited the Pacific said the United States should quickly adopt and pronounce a definite policy on Pacific matters. Firstly, to improve fightingmen’s morale so they would know more exactly what they were fighting for. Secondly, smooth relations with the Allies to avoid harmful political trading. Thirdly, to fix la standard for the United States postiwar Navy, which he believed would I have to be quite large. He added that : he heard no' talk while abroad about I a Pacific Charter, and did not think ! such talk would be useful. Americans {have a misconception concerning the i length of the war in the Pacific, attributable partly to the optimistic tone of Governmental propaganda. It was difficult for anyone to forsee a definite conclusion of the Pacific war which may go on for years longer than most have been led to believe. American rate of supply and appropriation for the Pacific must in most instances be maintained at the present rate and in some instances accelerated. AUSTRALIANS CRITICISED WASHINGTON, December 27. Representative Ward Johnson has just returned from the Pacific. He urges that the United States hold all of the Pacific bases which it takes, irrespective of their previous ownership. He told reporters: “There is no indication that we have had any assistance from the British, French, or Dutch in the Pacific. Australia has helped some, but at present I feel disgusted with her attitude. Australians are not working as hard as they should. They have a feeling that the war has got so far away that the Americans are handling it. They are not hurting themselves at present.” Mr. Johnson cited as an example the Christmas holiday demand of coal miners in Australia. Mr. Johnson told the Australian Associated Press: “The Australians have done splendid work in the past, but the war has moved far from their shores. They have relaxed. They now feel out of danger.” He pointed out that Australians did not work on Saturday afternoons, and had 4.30 p.m. closing daily. He thought they should have a six-day week, and work the round of the clock if necessary. He said: “They are still in the war and ought to stay in. They still are grateful for American help, but are beginning to get over than. However, they are very friendly to the Americans, and perhaps more so than to the British.” . Mr. Johnson said the British Fleet which arrived in Australia, was, apparently, relying on the Americans for suoplies. He expressed the opinion that the British ought to. go into Borneo and Java for supplies, particularly for oil. Meanwhile the British should bring oil from Persia, so that the United States would not need to haul it across the Pacific. CASUALTY TOTALS. RUGBY, December 28. United States combat casualties announced since Pearl Harbour have reached 628,441 an increase of 55,973 on the last overall figure announced a fortnight ago, says a Washington message. The total includes Navy casualties, but Mr. Stimson said the Army figures were to December 14 and thus exclude those sustained in the German offensive.

Mr. Stimson emphasised it was too early to predict what additional power the Germans could muster. He added: •‘I am confident we are winning and that time will tell this German throw of the dice wall have disastrous consecjuences for the enemy.”