DEFENCE IN FAR EAST

Southland Times, Issue 24599, 22 November 1941, Page 6

DEFENCE IN FAR EAST

MR DUFF COOPER’S VIEWS MINISTER ARRIVES AT AUCKLAND (P.A.) AUCKLAND, November 21. To confer with the Government in the course of his mission to the Far East on behalf of the British War Cabinet, Mr Alfred Duff Cooper, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, arrived in Auckland this afternoon. He was accompanied by his wife, Lady Diana Duff Cooper, and a member of his staff, Lieuten-ant-Colonel L. B. Robertson. Mr Duff Cooper said it had been suggested that an institution might be set up in the Far East, where there were a great many sources of authority, similar to the work undertaken by Mr Oliver Lyttelton in the Middle East. Unlike Mr Lyttelton he had not been sent to undertake certain work, but merely to report on what changes seemed desirable. It was not yet settled whether an organization such as had been suggested should be set up, but in view of the rapidity with which events

were moving he had sent a member of his staff to Britain with a preliminary report and had stated that he could give further views after visiting Australia and New Zealand. The report should have reached Britain within the last few days. He certainly thought improvements were necessary and was hopeful something would be done to expedite the alterations. MALAYA’S PREPARATIONS Asked whether he thought Australia and New Zealand should be represented on any body which would be set up, Mr Duff Cooper said that depended on the type of organization. The two Dominions were certainly closely concerned. Discussing various aspects of defence in the Far East, he said Malaya s preparations had been very much improved, even in the short period he had been there. Britain was now very strong in Malaya. Although he had not seen a great deal of the Netherlands East Indies defences he had learned something of the improvement that had been made in the past year. The Dutch were working in the closest co-opera-tion with the British, and naval and air collaboration with them was complete. Referring to co-operation with the United States, Mr Duff Cooper said the Americans were interested in the Burma road on account of the large amount of Lend or Lease Act material being sent by that route. There was a great deal of delay on the Burma road on account of the number of authorities in charge. Steps were being taken to remedy the position. Although much material was being sent over the. route, a good deal was awaiting transit, but an improvement in organization should help to remedy this position. He had spoken to the British Minister at Bangkok, Sir Josiah Crosby, who thought Thailand would fight if attack- | ed and that the Thais would give a i good account of themselves. He was very much impressed with Australia’s war effort; it was making remarkable strides in the production of munitions, aircraft and ships, and was making things that had never been attempted before the war. Asked his vews on the merits of volunteering and conscription for overseas service, he said he was very glad to learn New Zealand had introduced conscription. It was a splendid effort on the part of the country furthest away from the heart of the conflict. SPEECH AT RECEPTION The visitors were welcomed by Captain E. Rotherham (representing the Governor-General), the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) and Mrs Fraser, the Hon. R. Semple, the Hon. P. K. Paikea, the High Commissioner for the United Kingdom (Sir Harry Batterbee) and the Mayor (Mr J. A. C. Allum) and Mrs Allum. The visitors will leave tomorrow morning by air for Christchurch. They will travel to Wellington on Monday morning and the following morning will leave by air for Rotorua and Auckland, arriving here the same night. From New Zealand Mr Duff Cooper will return to Singapore. “This is indeed a magnificent welcome to New Zealand,” said Mr Duff Cooper when speaking to more than 2000 people who crowded the Town Hall for the civic reception extended by the Mayor. He was accompanied by Lady Diana Duff Cooper and both were given a most enthusiastic reception.

“It makes one wonder at. the temerity of those who dared to challenge the British Empire when one finds here on the opposite side of the earth a great people, loving freedom, fighting for freedom and prepared to die for freedom, members of a great commonwealth of independent nations spread so broad, planted so deep, with thoughts so high and com-age so inexhaustible,” said Mr Duff Cooper.

GERMAN IGNORANCE OF EMPIRE “When one sees this one wonders how even the most assiduous, hardworking and deliberately active instruments for ill-will of a country shut in among other countries with none of the same freedom, none of the same traditions, none of the same spirit—a country which has failed to make a success of any of the colonization she has attempted—could dare to hope that in the end they could triumph over the free will and determination of so many and such democratic countries. “I have been in Germany between the last war and this one. and nothing astonished me more than the widespread ignorance of what the British Empire meant, of the difference between the Dominions and the colonies and of the basic faith that held the whole fabric together. We have been through stern times since then—let us have no doubt about what the next few years will mean. They will mean either that Hitler is going to rule the whole world or that he, his companions, abettors and supporters are going to be wiped away and utterly destroyed. NO COMPROMISE “This is no war where compromise is possible; this is no war where at the end we will be shaking hands with the defeated and making fine treaties

under which he will pledge himself not to- do it again. No one outside a lunatic asylum will ever sign a treaty with Hitler again. Paper is growing rather scare in England today, and no one is going to waste a nice piece of white paper by putting his name on it with Hitler’s. “This is an all-out war” concluded Mr Duff Cooper. “Not only our lives depend upon our success, not only—which is more important—does the future of the Empire depend upon our victory, but it is the whole world and the future of the whole world that we are fighting for this day. This is the battle we are waging; this is the struggle; and with God’s help we shall win.” In his address of welcome the Mayor asked Mr Duff Cooper when he returned to Britain to express to Mr Churchill and the people New Zealand’s profound admiration for them and its heartfelt sympathy in the trials and suffering which they had been called upon to undergo. The Prime Minister associated himself with Mr Allum and welcomed Mr Duff Cooper and Lady Diana Duff Cooper on behalf of the Government, Parliament and people.