UNITED EFFORT

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24874, 21 April 1944, Page 6

UNITED EFFORT

ESSENTIAL TO VICTORY POLICY OF AUSTRALIA (5.35 p.m.) SAN FRANCISCO, April 19 Australia is as vital to America as a base in winning the war against the Japanese as America is vital to Australia in defending Australia, said the Prime Minister of Australia, Mr. J. Curtin, addressing a press conference in San Francisco, He added : "The people of Australia are everlastingly grateful to the Americans for their help. "We look for uninterrupted friendship with America and other Powers to .see that peace will not again he disturbed by an aggressor. This peace can only be secured if no regions are left insecure. Australians will continue to fit into any military plans for troops anywhere.'' Problems of Empire Mr. Curtin said the purpose of his visit to England was to have a general discussion on Empire problems. Asked if there was any dissatisfaction in.Australia with England, -Mr. Curtin replied: "No, but time does not stand still. We must keep abreast of affairs and not behind, as we were in 1939.' Mr. Curtin said he bad not any blueprint for the future, but he felt certain that there was no way of escaping general post-war difficulties. Therefore close co-operation between Australia and other countries was the only way to make the difficulties as light as possible. Asked his views on Pacific mandates, Mr. Curtin said it was impossible to say that any island or atoll had been captured by any particular battalion or group, or by the soldiers of any particular country. The whole disposition of the forces of the Allies was a matter for Allied military strategy. "I am sure,'' be added, "that there is no problem concerning mandates that the Allies cannot adjust satisfactorily." Length of Pacific War He would not hazard a guess how long the Pacific war would last, but he felt that 1944 was a year in which victory would be brought much closer. He dented that General Mac Arthur's communiques were over-optimistic. He said the communiques issued each day were justified by the total results. Replying to many questions concerning the Australian Army reduction, Mr. Curtin said the Australian armed forces totalled 800.000 out of 2,400,000 men of military age. The reduction of 20,000 sanctioned by General Mac-Arthur extended as far back as October and the step was absolutely essential to carry out ancillary services to the Army. He added that the question of sufficient supplies reaching Australia depended on global strategy. There would never be sufficient supplies anywhere until the Axis was completely defeated. Mr. Curtin will leave for Washington later to-day. Ho will be the guest of President 'and Mrs. Mr. Curtin's party includes Mrs. Curtin, General Sir Thomas Blarney, and Sir Frederick Shoddo't, sGcrotnry to tlio War Cabinet.