TRUSTFUL CO-OPERATION

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21202, 27 August 1940, Page 4

TRUSTFUL CO-OPERATION

Even though blood is thicker than water and language is a very close tie, the evidence of sound and trustful relationship between Britain and the United States is something to merit notice at a time when international feeling has deteriorated so tragically. Without a qualm Britain is allowing the United States to establish an air and naval base in a British possession, the Bermudas, where the intrusion of any other nation on earth would be viewed with the gravest alarm. There could be no clearer illustration of mutual trust and belief in a common destiny.

No transfer of territorial rights is asked for or granted. The United States desires to fortify the Bermudas as a protection of her own interests. Britain is conscious that she owes much to the United States for assistance in this war and the last, and so without the slightest fear of the consequences American armed forces are to establish themselves on British soil. And that policy will probably be extended considerably. In many directions Britain has territorial interests within the American defensive zone which might with mutual advantage come under the wing of American armed protection. Thus will the Western Hemisphere become consolidated defensively against the common enemies of the two great democracies. It is to be hoped that this co-operation will be extended and continued into the period beyond the war, for co-operation in the pursuits of peace might be even more fruitful. No time is being lost in implementing the decision to evolve a common defensive policy between Canada and the United States. Mr F. H. La Guardia, Mayor of New York, has been appointed chairman of the United States delegates on the joint Defence Commission, and the Americans have already had their instructions from Mr Roosevelt and gone to Ottawa to begin their work with their Canadian colleagues. Germany is naturally angered by this combination of interests in the Americas, for she sees in the action of the United States in collaboration with all the other American republics and Canada another sheet anchor of democracy and a combination of possible enormous military strength.