Unconditional Surrender Of Axis

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22491, 28 January 1943, Page 5

Unconditional Surrender Of Axis

Purpose Of Allied Strategy Leaders Confer At Casablanca By Telegraph—New Zealand Press Association—Copyright (Received 6 p.m.) LONDON, January 26. AT A CONFERENCE at Casablanca lasting 10 days, ** complete agreement was reached between President Roosevelt and Mr Churchill and their respective staffs upon war plans and enterprises to be undertaken during the campaign of 1943 against Germany, Italy and Japan with a view to drawing the utmost advantage from the markedly favourable turn of events at the close of 1942. Mr Roosevelt told correspondents they had reached the conclusion that peace was attainable only by the total elimination of German and Japanese power, which meant the unconditional surrender of the Axis. This did not mean the destruction of the populations of the Axis countries, but the destruction of their philosophy of hate, fear and subjugation of others.

The chiefs of staff kept two primary considerations before them: (1) The principle of pooling Allied resources on a world-wide basis, and (2) maintaining the Allies’ initiative throughout the world. The President added that a world offensive would be vigorously prosecuted and all possible aid would be given to Russia and China.

Mr Churchill said it was the most important war conference he had ever witnessed or attended. Nothing that had happened throughout the war could come between him and Mr Roosevelt. They were linked by friendship, which was one of the Allies’ sinews of war, making possible things which otherwise would be impossible between the heads of the Allied Nations. Mr Churchill praised the great enterprise of the African attack, in which he was Mr Roosevelt’s willing lieutenant, which had altered the whole strategic outlook. It placed the initiative in the Allies hands, and now that they had

that precious sovereign treasure in their hands they must labour hard to keep it. Mr Churchill emphasised the thoroughness of the professional discussion accompanying the conference, and expressed the Allies’ unconquerable will to pursue the war to an unconditional surrender by the Axis. Personnel of Conference A communique issued in London today states that the President of the United States, Mr F. D. Roosevelt, and the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Mr Winston Churchill, have been in conference near Casablanca since January 14. Mi- Roosevelt was accompanied by General George C. Marshall, Chief of Staff of the United States Army, Admiral E. J. King, Com-mander-in-Chief of the United States Navy, Lieutenant-General H. H. Arnold, commanding the United States Army Air Force, and Mr Churchill by the Admiral of the Fleet, Sir Dudley Pound, First Sea Lord, General Sir Alan Brooke, Chief of the Imperial General Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal, Chief of the Air Staff. These Chiefs of Staff were assisted by Lieutenant-General B. B. Somervell, commanding general, services supply, United States Army, Field Marshal Sir John Dill, head of the British Joint Staff Mission in Washington, Vice-Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, chief of Combined Operations, Lieutenant-General Sir Hastings Ismay, chief staff officer to the Minister of Defence, and a number of staff officers from both countries. They received visits from Messrs J. Murphy and H. Macmillan, American and British Resident Ministers in North Africa, from LieutenantGeneral D. Eisenhower, Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Expeditionary Force in North Africa, from Admiral of the Fleet, Sir Andrew Cunningham, Naval Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in North Africa, from General C. Spaatz, Air Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in North Africa, from General Clark, United States Army, and from General Sir Harold Alexander. Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder, and Lieutenant-General F. M. Andrews, United States Army. President Roosevelt was also accompanied by Mr Harry Hopkins and was later joined by Mr Averell Harriman. With Mr Churchill was Lord Leathers, British Minister of War Transport. Complete Agreement

For 10 days the combined staffs have been in constant session, meeting two and three times a day and recording progress al intervals to the. President and Prime Minister. 'Die entire held of war was surveyed theatre by theatre throughout the world and all resources were marshalled for I he more intense prosecution of the war by sea, land and air. Nothing like this prolonged discussion between the two Allies has ever taken place before. Complete agreement was reached between the leaders ol the two countries and their respective staffs upon war plans and enterprises to be undertaken during the campaign of 1943 against Germany, Italy and Japan with a view to drawing the utmost advantage from the markedly favourable turn of events at the close of 1942. Other Allies Kept Informed M. Stalin was cordially Invited to meet Mr Roosevelt and IVfr Churchill, in which case the meeting would have been held very much further to the East. He was unable to leave Russia at this time on account of the great offensive which lv himself as Com-mander-in-Chief is directing. Mr Roosevelt and Mr Churchill recognise Io the full I he enormous weight of I he war which Russia is successfully hear

Ing along her whole land front, and their prime object has been to draw as much weight as possible off the Russian armies by engaging the enemy as heavily as possible at the best selected points. M. Stalin has been fully informed of the military proposals. Mr Roosevelt and Mr Churchill have been in communication with Marshal Chiang Kai-shek. They have apprised him of the measures they are undertaking to assist him in China's magnificent and unrelaxing struggle for the common cause.

The occasion of the meeting between Mr Roosevelt and Mr Churchill made it opportune to invite General Giraud to confer with the Combined Chiefs of Staff and arrange for a meeting between him and General de Gaulle. The two generals have been in close consultation. The President and Prime Minister and the combined staffs, having completed their plans lor the offensive campaign of 1943, have now separated in order to put them into active and concerted execution. History Made Both Mr Roosevelt and Mr Churchill flew to Casablanca for the conferences. Mr Roosevelt, who is the first United States President to leave his country during a war. arrived a few hours before Mr Churchill. The President had flown by clipper to a point in South Africa where he transferred to a fourengined bomber. He arrived near Casablanca late in the afternoon and motored to his villa where he was met by his son, Colonel Elliott Roosevelt. After Mr Churchill’s arrival procedure was discussed and a series of meetings began. Informality characterised the talks between the two leaders whether at the conferences or at meals.

A press conference following the momentous meetings was held on the lawn of a lovely villa with Mr Churchill, Mr Roosevelt, General de Gaulle and General Giraud sitting in a semi-circle surrounded by about 60 British and American war correspondents and photographers. The four posed for photographers and then General de Gaulle and General Giraud were snapped shaking hands. Mr Roosevelt remarked that it was a historic moment. The two generals then withdrew. Germans Fooled The Germans thought that Mr Churchill was in Washington. The Berlin radio for the last few days had been saying that the visit showed how burning British and American differences had become.

The “Voelkescher Beobachter” said Mr Churchill and Mr Roosevelt were discussing M. Stalin’s intention to provoke a Bolshevik world revolution. Elaborate precautions were taken to guard Mr Churchill and Mr Roosevelt during their stay at the small holiday resort where the conferences were held. Guards were stationed everywhere. Scores of anti-aircraft guns had been brought to the area and the blackout was perfect. Mr Roosevelt’s presence in Africa was not even suspected by a regiment of United States soldiers

when I hey saw a convoy of limousines escorted by scout cars armed with heavy machine-guns approaching. “Another bunch of brass hats,” .some growled. Then the man with the famous smile. Mr Roosevelt, passed riding in a jeep, and the whole regiment, who could hardly believe its own eyes, smiled back. Scores of fighters formed an umbrella over the convoy. Road.s and bridges were specially guarded. The French population and soldiers were most surprised when they learned of the arrival of the distinguished visitors. Mr Roosevelt gave a dinner for the Sultan of Morocco and his son and found them wholeheartedly lor the Allies. Among Mr Roosevelt’s visitors were General Nogues and Admiral Mlchelier, Commander of (he French Fleet which opposed the Allie..' landing m North Africa. Carried Message Fiom King Mr Churchill, before setting out lor Casablanca, saw his Majesty who gave him formal permission to leave the country and wi slicd him good luck. It is understood innt flirg gave him a special message for MY Roosevelt.

Mr Churchill left London by car on the evening of January 12 for the aerodrome. He travelled to Africa in the same Liberator in which he went to Cairo and Moscow in August. The machine had the same pilot and the same crew. Mr Churchill spent some hours in a bunk fitted on the flight deck, but frequently visited the pilot’s cockpit. Big- News About to Break Editorials hailing the news of the historic confei'ence emphasise Mr Roosevelt’s phrase “unconditional surrender" and welcome the meeting of General de Gaulle and General Giraud. The “Daily Mail” says the Inference from the determined wording of the communique is that tremendous events are moving and may break in the near future. The paper hopes that the French talks will result in a political clean up in North Africa, though it says the communique leaves the general situation as obscure as before. Tlie “Daily Telegraph” warns that conferences or no conferences victory will be indefinitely postponed if the effort to defeat tlie U-boats slackens through anticipating an early end of the war, but adds: “Casablanca will show the Germans, who are already groaning about their long eastern front, that they will have something to groan about also during 1943 on an en even longer western and southern front from Narvik to Greece, via Tunis. We know that the Allies have a com-

mon plan, also the means and skill to carry it out and the resolution to pursue it to victory." Two Tangible Results Officials in America declare that the Casablanca meeting has produced at least two tangible results: (1) Decisions to launch great Allied offensives in 1943; (2) military if not political unity of the various French factions. Military decisions of such magnitude dwarfed any political considerations. This is evidenced not only by the joint statement but by the fact that foremost military advisers were present, while diplomatic troublemakers were absent. Observers express the opinion that this indicates that Mr Roosevelt and Mr Churchill concentrated on the unconditional surrender of the Axis and the liberation of the conquered countries rather than determining the future of France and other subjugated lands. Members of the conference therefore approached the French problem purely from the military viewpoint and conceivably warned the factional leaders that France cannot be resurrected by political bickering. Quarrelling over future leadership is futile if there is no France to lead. It appeared that the Frenchmen agreed to pigeonhole political differences and aspirations and prosecute the main task of freeing France. Mr Roosevelt at Casablanca said the Allies’ main object in the Pacific was to stop Japan forever from dominating the Pacific. New Zealand Comment Commenting on the meeting the Prime Minister of New Zealand (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) said: “It is particularly gratifying that Mr Churchill and Mr Roosevelt were able to meet for such an all important conference in close proximity to the actual fighting zone in North Africa and. consequently, could have the benefit of consultations with the commanders of the Navy. Army and Air Force of both the United Kingdom and the United States. A very significant and satisfactory announcement is that General de Gaulle and General Giraud have commenced discussions and negotiations which give an indication of ending in a mutual understanding and an amicable arrangement for the future of Free France. It is not necessary to emphasise for us in the Pacific the importance of the message .sent to Marshal Chiang Kai-shek. It is clear that the Pacific situation was thoroughly discussed and Jis importance appreciated. New Zealand will hail with delight the promise Io send to the brave and Indomitable Chinese the support they so urgently need. The conference is another proof of the invincible solidarity of the United Kingdom and the United States and of their determination, along with the other United Nations, to pursue the war with the utmost vigour and cxpcclil ion.’’