CONFERENCE ENDS

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIV, Issue 22671, 26 August 1943, Page 5

CONFERENCE ENDS

WORLD OPERATIONS SURVEYED

Necessary Decisions Taken By Telegraph—N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright LONDON, August 24. The following joint statement was issued this evening by Mr Churchill and President Roosevelt (according to Quebec messages): “The anglo-American war conference which opened at Quebec on August 11 under the hospitable auspices of the Canadian Government has now concluded its work. “The whole field of world operations has been surveyed in the light of many gratifying events which have taken place since the meeting of the President and Prime Minister at Washington at the end of May. "Necessary decisions have been taken to provide for forward actions of the fleets, armies and air forces of the two nations. Considering that these forces are intermingled in continuous action against the enemy in several quarters of the globe it is indispensable that an entire unit of aim and method should be maintained at the summit of the war direction. “Further conferences will be needed, probably at shorter intervals than before, as the war effort of the UnitStates and the British Commonwealth and Empire against enemy spearheads deepens. “It would not be helpful to the fighting troops to make any announcements of the decisions which have been reached. These can emerge only in action.

“It may, however, be stated that the military discussions of the chiefs of staff turned very largely on the war against Japan, and on bringing effective aid to China. Mr T. V. Soong, represented Marshal Chiang Kai-shek as a party to the discussions. In this field, as in the European, the Pre- | sident and Prime Minister were able to receive and approve unanimous recommendations of the combined chiefs of staff. “Agreement was also reached upon political issues underlying, or arising out of the military operations. “It was resolved to hold another conference before the end of the year between British and American authorities, in addition to any tripartite meetings which it may be possible to arrange with the Soviet. Full reports of decisions so far as they affect the war against Germany and Italy will be furnished to the Soviet Government. “Consideration has been given during the conference to the question of relations with the French Committee of Liberation, and it is understood that an announcement by a number of Governments will be made in the latter part of the week.” Mr ChurchiH Confident After the joint statement had been handed to the press, Mr W. L. Mackenzie King asked Mr Churchill to speak. As at Casablanca no questions were permitted. Mr Churchill said he was confident that the results would justify the concentrated study that had been given to the plans. British and American armies, navies and air forces were not only fighting side by side but were also actually intermingling. They were working in complete harmony and were ahead of schedule. The combined conclaves studied planned movements whereby the w’ar will be carried on and they had reached what he believed were very good conclusions. They were certainly unanimous conclusians, said Mr Churchill. After a poor start the United Nations were now better equipped than the enemy. People could look forward to great steps to beat down the adversary. Mr Churchill made it clear that Russia had not been invited because Russia was not fighting Japan. The Prime Minister added that the U-boat campaign had rolled over from the debit to the credit side owing to the great Canadian and American production of shipping, also the heavy sinkings of U-boats. Russia was making a superb contrL button. This, along with the other factors previously mentioned, would make it possible to rescue the people who had been suffering under enemy oppression so long. The conference

at Quebec was a satisfactory milestone along the road. President Roosevelt said that he and Mr Churchill had failed to create a phrase describing the historic conference. He compared the present situation with that when he and Mr Churchill met in June, 1942. What had been planned at that conference became effective in November, 1942, when North,Africa was invaded. The decisions at the conference at Casablanca last January were carried into effect in Tunis and Sicily. It could be assumed that other things would develop following this conference. Decisive Months Ahead Very high quarters in Washington talk of the next three months as possibly decisive in Europe. They do not rule out a breakdown of German resistance within five months, assuming intensification of Allied bombing with or without invasion. “This belief,” says the Washington correspondent of the “New York Times”, “results from the Quebec conference. Mr Churchill’s call for confidence, linked with the devastating bombing of Berlin, is interpreted as justifying more optimism regarding a German collapse than was sanctioned by Mr J. F. Byrnes’s cautious speech last week.” Informed circles consider that Mr Churchill and President Roosevelt seek a “limited revolution” in Axis countries, meaning the overthrow of the Fascist and Nazi regimes without the overthrow of authority capable of maintaining order. Washington observers also conclude from the conference that British, American and Russian relations still do not ensure the solidarity of the three powers after the war. They say that the attitude toward Germany is a major unsettled issue among Britain, America and Russia. The correspondent of the London “Daily Mail” who covered the Quebec conference says that President Roosevelt in recent months five times invited M. Stalin to meet him, suggesting variously, Irak, Cairo, Ireland, Alaska or the United States. A conference among Britain, America and Russia both to deal with existing difficulties and as an aftermath of Quebec is becoming increasingly probable, according to well-informed quarters in London. It is not likely to be on the Stalin-Roosevelt-Churchill level, but M. Maisky is coming back to London soon before finally returning to Russia. The Quebec correspondent of the Associated Press says that a meeting between Britain, America and Russia may be held before Mr Churchill returns to England. It is known that Mr Churchill is going to Washington, where talks with President Roosevelt will be resumed. Plans Decided Plans for war in the Pacific, promising “terrific” results, have been decided at Quebec, says the “New York Times.” Mr Churchill and President Roosevelt worked until 3 o’clock this morning on plans providing for great acceleration of the war against Japan. Three major drives believed to be embodied in these plans are: (1) A big campaign against Burma to reopen the Burma Road, enabling the Allies to establish and supply large bases for operation against the Japanese forces in China and against the Japanese mainland. (2) An Allied drive toward Japan from New Guinea along the island chains through the Philippines and Netherlands East Indies. (3) A simultaneous drive from the Aleutians in which Allied navies would play a major role.

It has been announced that Mr T. V. Soong (Chinese Foreign Minister), has already discussed with Mr Churchill and Mr Roosevelt plans for the war against Japan.