DEFENCE IN THE PACIFIC

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22356, 29 February 1936, Page 17

DEFENCE IN THE PACIFIC

Sir, —Throughout New Zealand at the present time the opinion seems to bo generally held that in £he event of any trouble with Japan, the United States would certainly come to our aid and everything would be " 0.K." On tho contrary, the U.S.A. has demonstrated over and over again that she is not prepared to go to the assistance of any other nation, so after all we are trusting in a broken reed. Our real destiny in the Pacific lies with Australia, and it is with Australia we ojight to mak<* our preparations for defence, for as far as Japan is concerned, Australia and New Zel«ind must stand or fall together. Of course we have the British Navy, our sure rock of defence, but Japan will select a time when thf British Navy is otherwise engaged it ever she means business. Tho more tho navies pf Australia and New Zealand stand together the more the strain on the British Navy will be relieved, and this is our best plan to assist the British Navy. Let us stop turning our eyes toward the U.S.A., for no help can ever come from that source, because their great weakness lies inside their own borders. At tho very moment, Japan is busy partitioning China, and although the U.S.A. is the great champion of the open door in China, she dimply' looks on, and that is all she ever will do, unless it affects her own country directly. Britain is preparing to spend £300,000,000 on defence, what about New Zealand? Security.