PACIFIC BLOCKADE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 256, 26 September 1940, Page 7

PACIFIC BLOCKADE.

AMERICAN PROPOSAL

NEW YORK, Sept. 24. The Daily News says that 10,000,000 dollars’ worth-of war materials arc going to the Axis from the United (States every month via Spain, Portugal, Cuba, Russia and Mexico. Department of- Commerce figures show, for example, that the United States’ exports to Spain and Portugal have increased by 22,000,000 dollars compared with the first seven months of last vear, while the shipments to Russia and thence to Germany are leaping up. • Well-informed circles believe that England and America will collaborate in a joint, blockade of the Pacific, with which the use of Australia, New Zealand and Singapore is hound, up. CO-OPERATION AVITH U.S.A.

Air Rov Howard, in an article in the Scripps-Howard newspapers following his New Zealand and Australian trip, stressed that New Zealand and Australia are seeking closer cooperation between the Empire and the United States in the Pacific.. “New Zealand tand Australia are interesting political phenomena,” he said. “Politicians’ and business men’s statements might cause a mistaken belief that these independent commonwealths are prepared to climb into Uncle Sam’s lap. Far from indicating, disloyalty to the Empire, for which they are pouring out blood and treasure even more generously than in 1914, their attitude merely expresses their determination that the Englishspeaking way of life shall not be snuffed out. Should the worst happen and England fall temporarily, the New. Zealanders and Australians foresee a new significance in the United StatesCanadian pact. In the meantime they face the menace of totalitarianism and realise that their relationship with the United States does not differ greatly from that binding them to Canada.”

The AYashington correspondent of the New York' Times on September 19 stated that representatives of the Empire and the United States were conferring regarding the possibility of closer co-operation among the English-speaking peoples _ throughout tho world, particularly 'the joint use of naval and air bases for mutual defence. The Secretary of State, the British T.m bassador, and the Australian Minister were participating in conversations chiefly in regard to the United States using Australian, New Zealand and South African bases. The United States, it was considered; had adopted a policy of keeping enemies far from her coast, and thus bases in Australia, South Africa and Singapore would obviously be most valuable.