The Grey River Argus TUESDAY, September 16, 1941. PEACE IN THE PACIFIC?

Grey River Argus, 16 September 1941, Page 4

The Grey River Argus TUESDAY, September 16, 1941. PEACE IN THE PACIFIC?

In default of an immediate settlement as between the United States and Japan, the fact that their negotiations have been eon tinned is somewhat reassuring. It would nevertheless be hasty to think that the Pacific will be free from tuvmoil to the degree it appears to have been since enemy raiders dropped out of the picture some time ago. They . now seem to be staging something like a “come back,’’ and it is obvious that at least one' has been operating for some little time in the direction of the Panama Canal. A number of vessels, some from these Dominions and others from the East Indies, arc reported to be overdue at Panama, and it is there assumed that sinkings have been caused by a raider. This menace, however, is one of a minor character as compared with the difficulty which divides Japan and the United States. The whole question of the future of Eastern Asia is therein the issue, and it is morally certain that in the attitude of the United States the policy of Britain is correctly reflected. An American newspaper observer, after fifteen years’ experience in the Far East, Air. Hallett Abend, now in Sydney, yesterday expressed the conviction that nothing could prevent Japan and the United States sooner or later getting into holds. There are also those who consider that the recent Roosevelt-Churchill pronouncement to be incompatible with any settlement except a virtual surrender by Japan of all she has been striving for during the past four yebrs on the Asiatic mainland. Nevertheless, it has re cently been emphasised that President Roosevelt would not have challenged the Axis with his shooting orders for the Navy and Air Force except that he felt reasonably sure of averting war in the Pacific. Air. Abend alludes to the advantage for the democratic Powers which would result from freeing the United States of an obligation to keep watch against the possibility of aggression in the Pacific. It thus may be an object of American policy to stretch a point here and there in order to come to an under standing with Japan. As far as New Zealand and. Australia are concerned, the feeling of the groat majority would be that conciliation should be tried to the utmost. Our Prime Minister, while admitting recently that the Pacific problem was grave and the outcome uncertain, has indicated also that those Dominions can roly confidently upon the United States; for assistance in the event of their being obliged to defend themselves. For instance, shipping is vital for our economic life, and the recent decision of the United States President to contest Axis war operations in waters deemed essential for American defence has a bearing on shipping movements to and from New Zealand and Australia. This point has been definitely made clear since Air. Roosevelt’s broadcast, but it is probable that it had been the subject of an understanding foi I some time previously. There is

naturally a temptation to exaggerate the risks inherent in the present situation. For instance a New York paper a few clays ago published a report that British properties had been shelled by a raider in the. Western Pacific whereas the Australian Naval Minister describes the rumour as utterly without foundation. Moreover, it has now been revealed that quite a number of enemy raiders have in recent months been accounted for on the Pacific, and though the ocean is one of vast dimensions, there is reason to believe that raiders there now will have less scope than ever, because the United States Navy will be on their trail for the future. In the light of all events since the war began, this country can feel itself fortunate to have escaped any worse consequences than the of some ships. It will be generally hoped that the negotiations between Japan and the United States may yet have a favourable issue, and that the forces of the Allies may be free for concentration against the Axis.