Suggested Pacific Union Against
p. 12 · Read in the full issue
Asiatics and Red Russia
VARIOUS incidents in recent weeks in dicate that, while the nations of Western Europe have been forming an Atlantic Defence Union against Russia, a similar idea, involving a Defence Union of Western peoples within the Pacific area, has been taking shape in this part of the world.
The Pacific is enclosed by four Con tinents. Two of them. North America and Australia, are inhabited by Europeans South America is inhabited by part- Europeans. The fourth and biggest Con tinent, Asia, carries more than half the population of the world, and is wholly non-European. That creates a difficult, complex situation.
Not only are the Asiatics rapidly de veloping a national consciousness, which in itself may threaten the safety of the Pacific-European countries: but, under Russian direction and inspiration, Com munism is rapidly taking possession of Asia; and Communism no less than Asia tics, threatens the security and living standards of all European communities.
The day is coming rapidly when the European nations, in and around the Pacific, will have to defend themselves against Asia; and their only sure and certain defence is a sharp sword. If West ern civilisation were to be led by the nose, by people like the Australian Dr. Evatt, into putting their faith in a toothless UNO, Western civilisation surely would perish.
The most notable of the month’s de velopments is the overthrow of the de cadent Chiang Kai-rShek Government of China by the Communists, and the estab lishment of a Communist Government, subservient to Moscow, in ancient China, where live one-quarter of the human race.
Next was the announcement that Russia is putting into service in the North Paci fic a new type of large submarine, with tremendous cruising range.
At the same time, Russia is perfecting an air fleet which can fly from Northern Russia right across the North Pole, to drop bombs in the middle of North America.
The other development was the step taken by the Dutch to “liquidate” the treacherous “republic of Indonesia”—the first sign of real backbone among the Socialist-ridden nations of Western Europe, Because the South Americans are indif ferent. the possibilities of a Pacific De fence Union actually are limited. Already, United States and Canada are united.
Even if Australia and New Zealand are enthusiastic in favour of a Defence Union, their collaboration, in terms of strength, means comparatively little to the United States. There are fewer people in all Australia than there are in the city of New York. There are as many people in the city of Sydney as there are in the whole of New Zealand. Nonetheless, Aus tralia and New Zealand could help by providing bases for American Forces.
The New Zealand Prime Minister, in statements made recently in Canada, was in favour of a Pacific Union: “If the need arose for the Democratic Nations in the Pacific to stand together, I am sure we would see a Pacific Pact developing along the lines of the Atlantic Pact.”
Australia has said nothing, Australia, officially, is playing about with various Socialist enterprises, and displaying her love for the Indonesians and voicing her passionate faith in the now discredited
UNO. But Australians, like everyone else recognise that there is no future whatever for these white communities in the South ern Seas unless the United States main tains command over the Pacific basin and keeps Asiatics, Russians and Communists m their proper place.
The two great protagonists of two en tirely different worlds are the United States, which stands for Individualism and the social standards which have evolved in 2,000 years of sociological struggle; and Russia, which represents Totalitarianism, and which is preparing to force upon the whole world a standard of life planned by Communists, in which the individual is a slave and everything that is decent in human conduct is trampled upon.