CONTROL OF PACIFIC

Grey River Argus, 22 December 1943, Page 5

CONTROL OF PACIFIC

BY UNITED STATES Senator’s Advocacy [Aust. & N.Z. Press Assn.] (Rec. 1.0) WASHINGTON, Dec. 21. Senator Chandler who recently toured the world battle fronts with other Senators, told the United Press that the Senate Military Affairs Committee has asked the Navy to recommend which Pacific Islands should be fortified by the United States after the war. Emphasising the importance of American control in the Pacific, Senator Chandler said: “The United States must establish and maintain a powerful defence line, including the Bonin Islands. Senator Chandler added: “This may sound imperialistic, -but for the sake of peace the United States must control the Pacific, and it would be dangerous to permit these islands to fall into the hands of weaker nations which would be unable to protect them. He explained that many .of the islands, like the Bonins, are outside of the British sphere of influence. The British could not defend them. The British also could not defend Australia. But even so, he said, in consequence of what the British owe us under the lend-lease, most of the Pacific Islands should be turned over to us, and particularly British Samoa, the Fiji Islands and th e Gilbert Islands.