PACIFIC ZONE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24131, 25 November 1941, Page 6

PACIFIC ZONE

EXCHANGE OF VIEWS MR. DUFF COOPER'S VISIT BRITAIN AND UNITED STATES J"BY 'xEljßG HAPH —PItKS.S ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Monday ■ A conference with the New Zealand Government whs held to-day by the Rt. Hon. A. Duff Cooper, a member of the British Cabinet, who is on a special mission to the Far East. In a subsequent interview, Mr. Duff Cooper, who expressed satisfaction with the results of his visit to New Zealand, said that an exchange of views had taken place between the Ministry and himself and that ho and the Ministers present had been in absolute and complete agreement.

Replying to an inquiry whether there had been any further developments in connection with the proposal that Britain should bo represented by a resident Minister in the Pacific area, Mr. Duff Cooper said be had investigated this question and submitted a report to the British Government., "As Mr. Churchill has already said, Britain is definitely 100 per cent behind America in the Pacific," said Mr. Duff Cooper, whim asked it' he was able to discuss the question of British aid to America in the event of the United States becoming involved in war in the Pacific. There was, ho added, complete trust between tho Governments of the two countries and no secrets as between one nation and the other. Tho United States had already been given tho use of bases in tho Atlantic and bases would also be made available in the Pacific if required. However, they might not be required, because America had already developed bases in its own territories. Mr. Duff Cooper will leave Wellington to-morrow morning by car for Auckland.

STEPS TO VICTORY OUR PART IN FUTURE MAXIMUM EFFORT NEEDED fBY TKLKGKAI'H—I'KKSH ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Monday "To-day in the Pacific we do not want war," said the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, speaking at a State luncheon to the Rt. Hon. A. Duff Cooper. "We in New Zealand accept in its entirety the Declaration of the Atlantic. which stands for freedom for all nations, and access to the raw materials of the world for all nations. Before that can lu> brought about all nations must agree to play the game, and the game is a democratic game and no other." Mr. Duff Cooper said be had seen enough on his brief visit to satisfy him New Zeulanders were 100 per cent in the war. The past year had been on the whole one of victories, with the defeat of the German day air offensive, the failure of night raids to smash British morale, the wiping out of the Italian armies in Libya and Abyssinia, and the reduction of submarine sinkings. He would not say that the U-boat menace had passed away, but for this year it had been defeated. Whereas in the summer of last year Britain stood alone, now three of the five great Powers, Britain, Russia and the United States, were ranged on one side. Germany was against them and the fifth was still wavering. The fifth was a Pacific power more closely concerned than any other, perhaps, with the future of Australia and New Zealand. The world of the Pacific was going to play a far more important part in future than in the past.

CIVIC RECEPTION STERN TIMES AFTER WAR [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Monday The Town Hall was crowded for a civic reception to the Rt. Hon. A. Duff Cooper and Lady Diana Duff Cooper, who arrived at Rongotni from Christchurch bv air. The Mayor, Mr. T. C. A. llislop, and the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, stressed the outstanding contribution Mr. Duff Cooper had made to Empire politics, particularly during the present war. Mr. Duff Cooper said the welcome he had received in New Zealand had made him wonder whether he was not enjoying himself too much. There was no harm in pleasure on legitimate occasions, but, as had been suggested by Mr. Nash, there were some people who did not realise the seriousness of the present struggle. He had met nobody in New Zealand who was not fully seized with the importance of the present situation facing the world. It was clear that either Hitler and all who supported his cause must bo utterly destroyed or else the British Empire, every part of it and all it stood for, would become but a memory.