AMERICAN PACIFIC BASES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 11 March 1943, Page 4

AMERICAN PACIFIC BASES

REFERENCE BY MR FRASER NO OFFICIAL APPROACHES (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) .Wellington, This Day. Referring to recent statements on American Pacific bases the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, said in the House of Representatives last night that any such questions should be brought up in the spirit of friendliness and helpfulness and that the great contribution the United States was making to the cause of humanity should be properly appreciated.

Mr Doidge (Nat. Tauranga), who recently discussed the question of bases, said that had been done as far as he was corlcerned. The Prime Minister added that he would not like a word said that would do anything other than bring New Zealand and America still closer together. There had been certain remarks in newspapers that might well have been left unsaid. Mr Fraser said that the strengthening of the bonds between New Zealand and the United States did not mean a weakening of the link with Britain. No American citizen expected that and they would have contempt for us if it did mean that No approaches had been made officially on the question of Pacific bases up to the present moment. Mr Doidge: “Have there been any negotiations with Mr Nash?” The Prime Minister: “Not as far as I am aware.” If, at any time, continued Mr Fraser, there was a question of setting up bases for the United Kingdom, the United States, the Netherlands, China or Russia or any other country obviously the thing to do was to get together and discuss the matter on a fair basis. Mr Fraser said he had the utmost confidence that that would be the attitude of the United States.