PACIFIC BASES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21697, 26 April 1945, Page 6

PACIFIC BASES

AMERICAN CLAIMS ISLES NEAR AUSTRALIA ISSUES FOR CONFERENCE . SYDNEY, April ?3. There was no reason why the Itapire should not support the Amerifclaints for Pacific island bases, a Commonwealth Government foreign affairs expert has. told the Sydney Daily Telegraph. He was commenting,, bn the statement by Dr. Evatt, Australia’s Minister of External Affairs, in San Francisco that Austrdlia would support the United States eliiirts for bases in the Marshalls, the Carolines and the Marianas. The foreign affairs expert, however, fdfecast that at this week’s world s'ecurity, conference Australia arid New. Zealand would be asked to accept full responsibility for the defenfce of New Guinea.and the SoloiflQPS. Of considerable moment to Australia was any decision that might be. made on the future control of Timor, Borneo, Celebes, Dutch East Indies and Singapore. For defence purposes the Dutch might be asked to, come inside the Empire defence sp.pebg centred on -Singapore. A similar proposition concerning Timor might be made to Portugal. Within such a defence sphere all units of any ration would operate as a single fighting force. Policing the Ocean

T;sr. Robson, editor of the Pacific Islands Monthly, said it Was essential that the United States should be given bases in New Guinea and the Soiopions. Dr. Evatt’s support of ■American control of the Marshalls, the Carolines, the Marianas and other former Japanese Pacific mandates meant nothing, since these islands Were beyond the sphere of Australian influence.

He added: “If, as we all hope, /yfierica at San Francisco accepts the responsibility of policing the Pacific. She will need widely scattered bases. Britain. France, Australia and New Zealand will be asked to supply them. L.iiave hot the slightest doubt that BHtain and France will agree to America’s demands, but there have beefi. indications that the Australian Government will object to ' America havirig bases in New Guinea and the Solomons. If the Americans want to Cothe close to Us and have an island or tWo as bases we should thank God fob it. What chance have we unless we have the protection of America, tli§ most powerful of the Pacific nations?”