The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-13
so. W. PACIFIC VITAL WAR REGION
America and Australia Deeply Concerned Over
 Future Policies

Springfield, Ill, Dec. 13.-Impor- tance of the Southwest Pacific re- zion was emphasized by R. G. Casey in the course of an address to the Mid-Day Luncheon Club of Spring field, Illinois, when referring to the relations existing between the Unit ed States and Australia. MT. Casey said:
 When the war is over I believe we Australians will, as people, see ourselves more clearly in rela- ton to the other peoples of the world. I think we shall see our selves not only as member of the British Commonwealth, but also as a not-unimportant country border ing on the Pacific Ocean-a coun- try whose future not only is linked with that of Great Britain and the other British countries, but also is bound up more and more closely with that of the other countries which face the Pacific.
 Already the Australian people are trying to clarify their own ideas on their relations with the other democratic countries is the Pacific area. We Australians have come to realize as we have never realized before how important is that region to which we refer as the South West Pacific-the region of which Australia is the central land mass and which extends from the South Sea Islands to New Zea- laAd and Australia and right up to Singapore.
 Americans Thinking, Too.
 To-day Australians appreciate how important the Southwest Pa cif1c region may be to the stability of the Pacific areas as whole. I believe I am not mistaken when I say there are many signs that the American people are also thinking more than they used to think about the significance of the Southwest Pacific-of it's significance to their security and to the peace and pros perity of all parts of the Pacific, in which Americans and Australians have a common interest.
 There are many things other than this which are certain to bring the Australian and the American peoples into closer contact as the years go on. But the economic and strategic significance of the South West Pacific is something on which I believe you and can today re- fleet to advantage.
 For the rest, am content to rely with confidence upon our com- mon outlook of life and our con- mon ideals to bring us closer to- gethe-. believe both our way of life and yours are threatened by what is going on in the world. For myself, believe the continued ex- istence of free United States is just as essential to the world and to us as I believe the continued ex- istence of the free British peoples is essential to you.
 Danger in Division.
 If I might paraphrase a famous speech by your great President Lin- coin, I would say the English-speak- ing peoples can never afford to be a House divided against itself
 "This is not 8 war between cer- tain countries-it is struggle be- tween two wholly different concep- tions of life. The war today is not about places on the map; it is be- tween two sets of ideas. We believe the individual is the most impor- tant thing in life. Nazi Germany believes otherwise. The Nazis be- lieve the might and glory of the State is the endpoint and objective in life. It is struggle between the freedom of the individual against the mighty weight of the machine of State. God nelp us all if the individual-the human being-does not winp