SUPPLIES FOR CHINA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24772, 24 November 1941, Page 6

SUPPLIES FOR CHINA

USE OF BURMA ROAD MR DUFF COOPER'S VIEWS PACIFIC DEFENCE QUESTIONS (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 23. "We have no military alliance with China," replied Mr A. Duff Cooper, British Cabinet Minister, who is on a special mission to the Far East, when a question on this subject was asked during an interview to-day. Material and equipment, he added, had been sent to 'China in the past from Britain and from the United States under the Lease-Lend Act, and plenty of supplies were now going to China by the Burma road. That there was not the slightest chance of the Burma road being again closed for the supply of war materials to China was indicated by Mr Duff Cooper, when his attention was drawn to the fact that the Australian Government had supported its last closing. "I think the Netherlands Government is quite satisfied," said the Minister when he was asked to comment on reports that dissatisfaction was felt in the Netherlands East Indies over the reported unwillingness officially of the British Government to pledge assistance to the Indies in the event of a Japanese attack. In regard to the strength of the forces at Singapore, Mr Duff Cooper said he did not know anything about further reinforcements, and he did not think that New Zealand would be asked to send any men for the army there. The forces in Malaya had been very much reinforced lately. He did not think a call would be made on New Zealand or Australia for further financial contributions towards the Singapore Naval Base. The appointment of an official representative from New Zealand at Singapore was not considered necessary by the Minister, who said that the British Government kept very closely in touch with the Australian and New Zealand Governments. Mr Duff Cooper was unable to say how long his mission to the Far East would take. He said he was flying straight back to Singapore, and would wait instructions from the British Government there. LEASE-LEND TRAFFIC INCREASING SUPPLIES FOR CHINA (Rec. 7 p.m.) RANGOON, Nov. 21. The Chinese estimate of Lend-Lease traffic to China along the Burma road before the end of the year will reach 13,000 tons a month. Over 13,000 tons of material from the United States has already accumulated in Rangoon, and over 8000 trucks are operating on the Burma road in spite of bombed bridges, dangerous curves and hills. A Chungking message states that work will ,begin soon on a highway from India to China to supplement the Burma road, starting from Sadiya.