“Unthinkable!”

Australia Will Not Surrender New Guinea

T T was unthinkable that Australia should even consider the handing over of any territory, said the leader of the Commonwealth Government in the Senate (Sir George Pearce) on March 13, in a statement on mandated lands.

“The Japanese mandate in the North Pacific reaches to the equator and adjoins the Australian mandate,” he added, “and we have an automatic demilitarised zone which introduces a considerable stabilis ing factor in Pacific waters.

“The result has been up to the present at least, equilibrium in the Pacific, re sulting in a feeling of security and tranquillity.”

New Guinea, by virtue of its geo graphical position, its natural harbours, its facilities for naval and military air craft, continued Sir George, was of con siderable strategic value to Australia from a defence aspect so long as the existing form of control and administra tion obtained.

The handing over of national rights and interests to the demand of a powerful nation could only result in international anarchy, he said. In effect, it would amount to a submission to blackmail— the temporary buying off of any militant aggressive nation. The claim that colonial territory provided an outlet for surplus population was not borne out by settle ment figures.

Mr. Charles Nordhoff, the celebrated American novelist, who has been visit ing his parents in California, returned to Papeete by the last Makura. A fellow passenger on the liner was Mr. Arthur Grander, another well-known resident of Tahiti. Mr. Nordhoff brought with him a motor-boat for use around the coast.

His many friends will be pleased to learn that Mr. Nordhoff is much improved in health.