FULL RECOGNITION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 August 1942, Page 3

FULL RECOGNITION

OF AUSTRALIA’S STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE DR. EVATT SEES CRUSHING ANSWER. TO MISLEADING CRITICISM. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) SYDNEY, August 10. The Minister of External Affairs, Dr. Evatt, referring tonight to “misleading aid mischievous statements about strategy and supplies,” said that one crush.ng answer to the critics who suggested that • the strategic importance of the Pacific theatre is insufficiently appreciated was the offensive now developing in the Solomons. It was impossible to discuss publicly the details of strategy and tactics, and of supply allocations. The War Council had been fully consulted on all important questions. What had been agreed to by Mr Churchill and President Roosevelt showed full recognition of Australia’s strategic importance. Excepting for temporary suspensions, due to the overr ding necessities of the war, all those arrangements had been fully met.

“Our debt to both countries is very great,” Dr. Evatt said. “Hcving regard to the serious position in other theatres, it is utter folly to suggest that the Pacific is not regarded by British and United States leaders as of crucial importance.”