Ritain’S Now Difficult

Role In The S. Pacific

Letter to the Editor 'J your July, 1954, issue you [ printed an article headed “Britan Ignores Fiji’s Vital oblems” and which proposes, as a ution, that New Zealand should st Britain from Fiji. To a passing itish tourist that article seems to itain so many “half-truths” that should surely have been dated m Moscow not London? rhe writer’s “deep concern for Fiji 1 the Fijians”, if taken seriously, uld be likely to prove disastrous h for New Zealand and Fiji— say nothing of the Common ilth as a whole. He suggests that lia is trying to create a situation which she would become power enough to order Europeans out the Colony. But at present there 10 sign that the Fijians are anti ite. he dismal condition of the Cook nds (as described in this same le of PIM!) and the Samoans’ i-white desire for home-rule gests that if Fiji also had the fortune to fall under New

land administration, the friendly

ans would also join the anti te block. ew Zealand, states your corres dent, does not mind offending ia; and, indeed he seems anxious dd another two or three hundred ions to the Red Block in Asia, also proposes to put an immense ien on the NZ taxpayer; for de lation of the Fijian-born In is would ruin the sugar, rice, and ir concerns which have become life-blood of the Colony. He :s to mention that NZ cannot i oyer Fiji without making Fiji-Indians NZ citizens—like Western Samoans—with the tto migrate to NZ. No wonder ireiers to remain anonymous! hope Britain never gets into ANZUS Pact”, continues your Jspondent, on the grounds that 'easement of Germany was all rage once.” The British de ition of war on Germany in was not appeasement. Without /ast sums loaned by the USA to nany in the 1920’5, Munich it never have arisen; but with hat one year (1938-39), so dear mght in prestige, we would not had the planes or pilots to win Battle of Britain. Again, the sh declaration of war in 1939 not appeasement. w Zealanders and Australians now run down Britain in favour SA (to the great glee of Mos would do well to remember ANZUS cannot defend the a Pacific without using the

British Commonwealth bases in the Indian Ocean; and also that during the years ’l4, T 5, ’l6, T 7, ’39. ’4O and most of ’4l, the USA officially was totally indifferent to the fate of Australia and NZ—and, in deed, refused any help except for “Cash on the barrel.”

Now America is once again spending great sums of money to re-arm a defeated foe. Perhaps Britain’s so-called “appeasement in Asia” is merely an attempt to try and prevent India (and a re-armed Japan) from joining Red China and Russia in their plans to take over the whole South Pacific —on Japan’s old Anti-White slogan, “Asia For The Asians.”

Closely knit together, the British Commonwealth (which includes India and Ceylon) could be as rich and powerful as USA. But petty spite, local ignorance and conceit

could split it up into helpless fragments. The Moscow-inspired ANZUS Pact is indeed a policy of Anglo-Saxon fragmentation.

I am, etc.,

Alan V. Insole.

4 Bedford Row, London, WC.

Editorial Note

What ANZUS Really Means

WE will not here dispute Mr.

Insole’s statements and argu ments except perhaps the last two lines. The ANZUS Pact is not Moscow-inspired. It is the logical outcome of the stark facts that, in World War 111, our Mother Country will be so deeply engaged in defending her own borders in Western Europe that she will have nothing to spare for our help in the South Pacific; and that the rapidly increasing power of Red Asia actually threatens the survival of the Europeans in the South Pacific. (Continued on Page 138)

No one would suggest that would be better off under Zealand rule. In our opinion, be on 30 years’ close observation,, present system of government Fiji (complete authority, mod by carefully chosen local visers, kept in the hands c trained and trusted Governor ; the British Colonial Office) is: best that could be devised to 3 the peculiar conditions of Fiji.

Zealand control almost certs would lead to disaster.

But, again, we may not close eyes to the logic of plain fact; World War 111, the Pacific O will become a battleground bet’

Moscow-dominated Asiatics, Europeans (mainly Anglo-Ar cans directed by the United Sta As was the case between 1941 1945, Britain will have no portunity of entering the Ps field of operations; and the dency then will be for Solon New Hebrides and Gilbert Ellice Colony to be added to tralia’s territories, while Fiji, ; than ever, will be tied to Zealand. Already, Fiji’s def: aviation, education, and h systems are closely linked with t of NZ.

The Fijians’ goodwill toward; British, of which Mr. Insole w surely will wither under Britisl difference towards the acute munities problem in Fiji.

Britain is trying to keep off Ne toes —that is more important the Fiji population problem, can the Fi.iians be expectei understand that?