PACIFIC DEFENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24103, 23 October 1941, Page 9

PACIFIC DEFENCE

BECENT AGREEMENT DETERRENT TO JAPAN LONDON PAPER'S COMMENT (Herd. 0.30 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 21 Commenting on the remark of the Australian Prime Minister, Mr, Curtin, that cohesion has been established between the democratic Powers in the Pacific, which has substantially increased Australian power to resist, attack, the Daily Telegraph states : "Whatever chance there may bo of averting eventual war in the Pacific rests solely on Japan's fear of the opposition she will meet, and nothing could be better calculated to impose discretion even on her hotheads than the certainty of unison between the British Empire, Holland and the United States." Referring to General Tojo's statements that Japan is "standing at the crossroads of life or death" and her desire to "contribute to world peace" by settling the China incident, the Telegraph suggests that such language is a "common form with Japanese Prime Ministers on their advent to office," and states: "Prince Konoye was just as adept at these rhetorical demonstrations as is his more extreme successor."

The Telegraph continues: "Evidently we shall have to wait and learn by experience what really lies behind this smokescreen of bellicose platitudes. Eor the moment things appear to be continuing very much on the same lines as before, particularly in the matter of the 'peace' talks which have been in progress since the beginning of last month.

"What Japan has ever expected to gain from these talks has always been something of a mystery. Certainly she never had the smallest prospect of getting the two things she chiefly wanted from the United States —recognition of the 'co-prosperity' sphere and relaxation of the econoanic embargo. Whatever her purpose, the fa®t that General To jo has not abruptly cancelled the parleys rather suggests that no spectacular adventures are contemplated in the immediate future—unless any developments in the Russian campaign should occur to precipitate matters." FOOD DISTRIBUTION SPAIN'S BLACK MARKETS DEATH PENALTY IMPOSED (Reed. 6.43 p.m.) MADRID, Oct. 21 General Franco has issued a decree imposing the death penalty for dealings in the "black markets" for food and essential goods. All persons arrested in j future will be tried by military courts for rebellion.

The decree is a final effort to crush the black markets, which have sabo- j taged the Spanish Government's efforts to distribute food evenly. Offenders numbering 5000 have already been sent to labour camps, and fines of more than £2,500,000 have been imposed within a year, but the measures have proved insufficient to stem illicit trading and hoarding. PACIFIC DESTINY | FUTURE OF AUSTRALIA HIGH DUTCH TRIBUTE BATAVIA, Oct, 21 Mr. Van Der Plas, leader of the recent Netherlands East Indies' mission to Australia, has returned home. In a broadcast ho said heavy exploitation work in difficult country of large spaces made the Australians a powerful, fearless and industrious people. These qualities, and a profound sense of every person's right to live in human dignity, had brought about a community in which everyone was equal to everyone else, and got a fair chance. Mr. Van Der Plas reviewed at length Australia's war effort. He said the Australians were deeply convinced that the Commonwealth and the Netherlands East Indies could build a pillar of strength for the coming peace in this part of the Pacific, and assist each other to create a happier, better and safer existence for their children and grandchildren.

BRITAIN'S HEALTH

STANDARD MAINTAINED LOWER MATERNAL MORTALITY LONDON, Oct. 21 The Minister of Health, Mr. Ernest Brown, in the House of Commons, said that, considering all the abnormal circumstances of war, the health of the nation had been surprisingly good. He pointed out that the general death rate in 1940 was 14.3, compared with 12.1 in 1939, although these figures were scarcely comparable as, since the outbreak of War the deaths of non-civilians have been excluded.

The maternal mortality rate per 1000 total of births declined last year to a new low record of 2.61, compared with 2.82 in 1939. The mortality rate from cerebro spinal fever had declined by two-thirds in the last few years. Measles for the moment had almost disappeared, and scarlet fever had declined.

FOOD FOR CHILDREN

ARRANGEMENTS EXTENDED NEW BRITISH SYSTEM LONDON, Oct. 21 An extension of the feeding arrangements for school children was announced to-day in the House of Lords by the Minister for Food. Lord Woolton, states the British official wireless. A great increase in the number of meals served at schools, Lord Woolton said, would be brought about by increasing the financial grant from the Treasury to local authorities and by bringing into immediate action the cooking depots which have been set up for meeting the emergency feeding of the civil population should the occasion arise.

There would shortly bo 250 of these depots, with a capacity for serving ■IOO,OOO meals daily to children. In addition, 4000 meal centres had already been established in cities and industrial areas and would bo made available. Lord Woolton recalled the measures taken to assure adequate milk for children up to 17 years of age, both in schools and in their homes, and added that special steps had been taken—in which the generosity of the United States had played a great part—to make up a shortage of fresh fruit by the supply and distribution to children of fruit juices.