RT. HON. P. FRASER

Grey River Argus, 19 May 1941, Page 4

RT. HON. P. FRASER

ARRIVAL AT CAIRO A Notable Journey VISITS TO N.Z. FORCES. [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.j (Received May 18, 6.30 p.m.). (N.Z.E.F. Official News Service). CAIRO, May 17, Rt. Hon. P. Fraser (Prime Minister of New Zealand) lanaed at the Egyptian capital this afternoon in a Royal Air Force machine. Admiration for the magnificent stand bv the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in Greece was expressed to Mr Fraser by General Wavell, who called on Mr Fraser shortly after his arrival. This admiration is shared by all in the Afiddie East, and everybody whom Mr Fraser ha? met voiced praise and appreciation for deeds of valour and courage performed by the New Zealanders, Maori and pakeha. This morning Mr Fraser called on Sir Ahmed Hassa'nein Pasha, Chamberlain to King Farouk, at the Abdin Palace. Mr Fraser landed at Cairo on a cool sunny afternoon, which followed one of the city’s worst heat waves, in which the thermometer touched 120 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade; He was met by the British Ambassador, Sir M. Lampson, Air ViccrMarshal A. W. Tedder (Second in Command to Air Marshal Longmore), Brigadier N. S. Falla, Colonel W. G. Stevens (Officer in Charge of the Administration of (he N.Z.E.F.), Colonel Conway (Adjut-ant-General, N.Z.E.F.), and Colonel F. Waite (New Zealand National Patriotic Fund Commissioner). The spending of several days in the world’s hottest regions did not appear to have sapped his vitality, and Mr Fraser was fit and well.

After shaking hands with Sir M Lampson and before meeting other members of the Reception Committee, Mr Fraser shook hands with the crew of the plane. He is staying at the British Embassy on the banks of the Nile as the guest of Sir M. and Lady Lampson. There is a full programme mapped out. and Mr Fraser is having a busy time. In order to see as much as possible of the New Zealand troops, he will visit nearly every camp, hospital, convalescent depot, and club at which New Zealanders are likely to be fou»:d. THE ITINERARY.

Leaving Auckland on May 3, in a Tasman Airways iiying-ouat, Mr Fraser was xarewelled oy a small group, which included the Mayor or AUCKiand, Sir E. Davis; Mr A. S. Richards, ALP.; Airs .Eraser, Mrs Berendsen, and Airs Jeffery

The Acting-Frime Minister of Australia, Mr Hadden; the Deputy-Lead-er of the Commonwealth Labour Party, Mr Frank Forde, represent- . ing tne Oppos.tion Leader, Mr Curtin; Sir H. Manning (representing the New South Wal.es State Government) and Mr Tay.or and Mr Malcolm (New Zealand Government Trade Representatives in Australia) met Mr Fraser on his arrival at Rose Bay, Sydney. Mr Fraser attended a meeting of Australia’s War Cabinet at Sydney, and participated in important discussions. He also had an inter-change of views on munitions supply, shipping overseas, and inter- | Dominion trade with Sir Earle Page . and Senator Mcßride. At an official luncheon he met Hon. Mr Spender, I Senator Foil, Sir Frederic*. .stewm ■, Dr. Evatt and Mr Beasley (Members 1 of the War Cabinet), and Mr Forgan Smith, Prime Minister or Queensland. Mr Forgan Sm.th flew to Bris- ' bane with Mr Fraser in a Quantas Empire Airways flying boat. At • Darwin, Mr Fraser was met by the Administrator, Mr L. Abbott, with 1 whom he inspected the defences. “I I was deeply impressed by the . strengthening of Darwin’s defences , since my last visit in December, I 1939,” Mr Fraser told a war correspondent. At Surabaya, Mr Fraser met Dr. Van Kieffens and Mr Welter, and had a long discussion w.th them. After flying by land plane to Batavia, he was the guest of the Gover-nor-General of the Netherlands East Indies. Jonkheer Dr. A. W. L. Tjarda Van Starkenborch Stachouwer. Sir Robert Brooke-Popham was Mr Fraser’s host at Singapore, where . the Prime Minister was mostly occupied with the inspection of the naval base, the flying fields, and the land defences that make Singapore ' Britain’s main Pacific bulwark. Mr Fraser discussed defence with Sir ' Robert, and with Admiral Layton. . In Bangkok, the ancient Thai Capital, Mr Fraser stayed a night with the/ British Minister. Sir Josiah Crosby. He was also a guest at Gov--1 eminent House, Calcutta. ! Mr F. R. Picot,. New Zealand re- ! presentative of the Eastern Group | Supply Council, met Mr Fraser at Calcutta, and accompanied him -to I Gwalior. Problems of supply and 1 other matters concerning the war. I effort in the Far Eastern and South i Pacific zones were discussed, while Mr Fraser was at Karachi, where he was entertained by the Governor of Sind, Sir Hugh Dow. Mr Fraser was advised, from LonI don, that in view of the Iraa situa- ' tion, it would be advisable to proceed to Cairo by the Bombay and Aden Sea route, and arrangement! had been made accordingly, but, owing to his anxiety to see. the New Zealand soldier’s in the Middle East and to ascertain for himself at ; the earliest possible moment the definite casualties figures in the Greek campaign, he decided to adhere tn his previous itinerary arranged. Through the co-operation of the Viceroy of India, Lord Linlithgow. Sir M. Lampson, and the Middle East Command, he travelled by flying boat to Basra, an Iraqi port on the Persian Gulf, which had only just been captured by the British from the insurgents. MR FRASER'S PLANE SHELLED. Shortly after leaving Basra the R.A.F plane by which he was travelling was ineffectively shelled by antiaircraft fire from a small section of the insurgent forces of Raschid Ali Mr Fraser is acqompanied.by members of his own staff, Messrs Bcrendsen and Jeffery, CAIRO, May 17. Rt. Hon. P. Fraser saw the Egyptian Premier. He is extensively visiting the New Zealand forces in the Middle East before continuing his journey to England.