DANGER SEEN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23339, 6 May 1939, Page 13

DANGER SEEN

AMERICA_AWAKENS CHANGE JN_ OPINION EUROPE AND PACIFIC MR. BRUCE'S DIAGNOSIS By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received May 5, 9.15 p.m.) WASHINGTON, May 5 The Australian High Commissioner in London, Mr. Stanley Bruce, whose visit to Washington culminated in an audience -with President Roosevelt, to-day made the following statement to the Australian Associated Press: —

"I f&ould fail to stress perhaps the most important aspect of my present visit to America, iwhich, like that of last December, may be said to be exploratory and informational, if I did not mention the marked advance in American opinion relative to the European and Paeific situation in the last six months. Deteriorating Conditions "I was struck in December by the acute awareness on the part of Americans of the dangers in the southern Pacific and the i'eArs that they would increase. Actually, this awareness perhaps exceeded what - was felt even in Australia. Americans frankly felt that conditions in the southern Pacific were deteriorating alarmingly. "Concerning the European situation, certain portions of the public were keenly aware of the necessity for uniformity of purpose, and, \if possible, action by America with Britain and France against the dictatorships. Unity with Democracies

"Well, half a year has immeasurably advanced the consciousness <of the United States that it must go as far as possible toward achieving unity of purpose with the democracies. The* belief is now widespread that the Unisjted States should aid with materials awd munitions against aggression, and tine most advanced opinion believes that iii the event of a showdown assistance may also be military.

"Publicists and men of affairs are unable to lose sight of the fact that the European democracies are the United States' first line of defence, and while there is the greatest anxiety to keep out of war at all costs, there is nevertheless a realisation that the first great defeat which the democracies suffer in a contest with the totalitarian States will immediately pose Americans with direct danger from the same source and the necessity of deciding quickly what action to take to stem the tide. Clarification Awaited "I am, of course," said Mr. Bruce, "speaking wholly unofficially, and am in no way intimating that this is an infallible diagnosis of the majority American viewpoint. I would consider such an iniimation as meddling in a wholly domestic affair. It is merely the reaction of a traveller for what it is worth, and the marked advance in public 1 opinion in half a year really merits note.

"I may, incidentally, say that the growth of awareness in America concerning the dangers of the European situation has not diminished the consciousness of the intensification of the South Pacific trouble areas. As a matter of fact, America's awareness of both problems has increased almost in similar proportions; but what America will ultimately do yet awaits clarification in the American mind itself."