“WAR MOT NEAR”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22582, 10 March 1948, Page 6

“WAR MOT NEAR”

OFFICIAL VIEWS AUSTRALIA AND N.Z. DEFENCE PRECAUTIONS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, March 10. Neither the Australian nor the New Zealand Governments considered that war was imminent, but it was essential that they should put their houses in order, said the Australian High Commissioner, Mr. A. R. Cutler, commenting yesterday on ihe appointment of Brigadirr G. W. O'Brien as military secretary on his staff, Mr. Cutler, accompanied by Brigadier O’Brien returned today from Australia by the Wahine. The appointment of Brigadier O’Brien (who will act as defence liaison officer betwaen the Australian staff and the three New Zealand services), continued Mr. Cutler, was necessary because the former idea of British Commonwealth defence, which was pivoted on the United Kingdom, had been altered to the concept of Global defence in which each part of the Commonwealth would accept responsibility for its own area. While the Canberra Pact had stipulated that both countries should cooperate in Pacific defences, the appointment of Brigadier O'Brien envisioned something far wider as “it was tied up with the British Commonwealth's plans," Mr. Cutler concluded.