Importance of Equator

Anglo-American

Frontier

Importance of Equator In Future Pacific

ANEW mid-Pacific frontier along the equator, between the United States and Britain, was visualised by Sir Albert Ellis. New Zealand representative on the British Phosphate Commission, when he referred to the future of former Japanese-held islands in an address to the Auckland Rotary Club on June 30.

He suggested it would be comparable to the great, unguarded frontier between Canada and the Unted States, of which British people were justly proud as an example of internatinal friendship and goodwill, but complacency could give it the false security of the ill-fated Maginot line.

The disposal of the island groups for merely under Japanese control must be determined on the principle of safe guarding the Pacific against a recurrence of aggression, Sir Albert said.

Of the possessions held by Japan before the First World War, the United States seemed to have a good claim to the Okinawa Group, more particularly as Russia had the Kurils, north of Japan.

It was his impression that the islanders would not resent permanent American occupation if it took place.

ISLANDS north of the equator mandated to Japan after the First World War were now occupied by the United States by right of conquest and, if they were retained, America would be in a very strong strategical position in the Pacific.

“I say good luck to the United States, because it has been my experience to see these groups occupied first by Germans and then by Japanese and we people in the central Pacific look forward to having good neighbours in the future,” he re marked.

Sir Albert considered the natives would welcome American rule should the islands come under United States control.

Americans had something to learn from Britain in the administration of native races, but he thought they would gain from experience and the ultimate result would be satisfactory.

It could be forecast that either by an nexation or under trusteeship the United States would control all the groups north of the equator that were occupied by the Japanese after the First World War.

This would mean an oceanic frontier of 3,200 miles.

ONLY a few British islands were north of the equator and, with their in habitants very loyal to Britain, any change in their status would be unthink able, Sir Albert stated. South of the equator British interests predominated and there was no suggestion of any official backing for American press opin ions that two clozen British atolls, and islands should be handed to the United States. They were valuable islands and any transfer would be disloyal lo the native inhabitants and, in their eyes a blow to British prestige.

It seemed that the equator would be the dividing line between America and British interests.

Referring to phosphate production on Nauru and Ocean Islands, Sir Albert said they were a shambles when occupied by the Allies after three years of Japanese control, and the making good of war damage would cost about £2,000,000.

However, the natives, who had flocked back, were doing a splendid job and the programme was for an output of 600,000

tons of phosphate next year. The Nauru cantilever would be working by the middle of 1948 and in two or three years the two islands would be in a stronger position than ever.