PACIFIC AREA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24950, 24 June 1942, Page 5

PACIFIC AREA

IMPORTANCE OF FRONT REALISED BY UNITED NATIONS (N.Z.P.A. Special Australian Correspondent.) (Rec. 1.20 a.m.) SYDNEY, June 23. The people of England had a personal, almost a passionate interest in the people of Australia and New Zealand, said the Minister of External Affairs, Dr H. V. Evatt, to-day. Both in England and in the United States there was a realisation, too, of the importance of the Pacific in the world war and the necessity for halting Japan before she became too strong. "These are plain facts," said Dr Evatt, " but we must not rest on them. We must see that the Pacific War Council, on which both Australia and New Zealand have voices, is made to work." Dr Evatt pointed out that the fact that Australia and New Zealand had representatives on the council meant that the decisions made were truly Pacific ones. The importance attached by President Roosevelt to the council was evident bythe fact that he always presided. He considered that the deep personal friendship and comradeship between Mr Churchill and President Roosevelt to be one of the great factors m the war.

The Soviet Commissar of Foreign Affairs, M. Molotov. was also a remarkable statesman who made a great impression in Washington and London, Dr Evatt said. In two days by personal contact he had achieved great things. "In England the public has confidence in victory," Dr Evatt added. " You can tell that by the faces of the people and their bearing is confident. There is no question of their certainty of victory. Yet they are never satisfied. They realise that if they slacken, though their position to-day is satisfactory, it may slip in a couple of months." The Australian Prime Minister, Mr J. Curtain, has paid a tribute to the work of Dr Evatt in his 100 days' trip. " Nobody at this stage can assess the value of what this mision has done," said Mr Curtin. ANOTHER QUIET DAY SOUTH-WEST PACIFIC (N.Z.P.A. Special Australian Correspondent.) MELBOURNE, (Rec. 0.45 a.m.) June 23. A complete lull in combat activity in all zones north of Australia is reported for the second day in succession by General Headquarters of the southwest Pacific. To-day's brief communique states: "Allied and enemy activity in this theatre was limited to reconnaissance." ■

The total damage to Sydney and Newcastle when Japanese submarines shelled them on the night of Sunday, June 7, was less than £4OOO. A War Damage official said a total of 17 claims aggregating about £2OOO have been received ifl Sydney and 12 claims for a similar amount from Newcastle. In all the cases the repairs to property are in hand.