FRENCH DEMAND

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 65, Issue 195, 31 May 1945, Page 5

FRENCH DEMAND

CHANGES IN CHARTER. STATUS OF ENEMY STATES. CONFERENCE MAY BE EXTENDED (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec 10.5.) SAN FRANCISCO, May'29. The French demand for changes in the Big Four amendment relating to the status of the treaties directed against former enemy States and other pending problems seem likely to extend the conference to June 11, says the New York correspondent of the “Her-ald-Tribune.” As now contemplated, the Charter provides that the bi-lateral treaties be subordinated to the world organisation by “consent” of the signatories. France wants this changed to “request.” France also wants language that would give the signatories of such treaties as the French-Soviet Pact the right not only to act to prevent aggression by former enemy States, but also the right to act to prevent aggression by anybody for the life of the treaties without waiting for the Security Council to act. It is understood that such rights would not be greater than those granted to the United States and the LatinAmerican Republics under the Act of Chapultepec. Russia strongly supports France in both requests, although the reason for this is not explained and is not apparent. The correspondent of the “New York Times” reports that at Canada’s request, supported by the Netherlands and other middle nations,. the Big Five agreed on the principle that a non-member of the Security Council should have representation and a vote on the Council when the use of its own military forces were involved in discussions by the Big Five. Other important developments were: (1) Denmark is now eligible to seek admission to UNCIO, the Russians having agreed that Denmark signed the Anti-Comintern Pact under duress, and Denmark’s resistance to the Germans justified her admission, which other sponsor Powers agreed to a fortnight ago.(2) The Russians asked that the Charter’s adherence to self-determina-tion principles apply not only to members of the new organisation, but also to colonial peoples also. The. Russians also requested the elimination of the so-called Palestine amendment which freezes the right of any State, or any peoples in any territory, or the terms of any mandate. The Peruvian delegation proposed a Charter provision that the world Press have the right of free access to the General Assembly’s deliberations, thereby making the new League’s assembly the vocal point of world public opinion. As a result of the decision of the Technical Committee, the new League assembly will be a wide-open forum

for Iho discussion of world problems, says the correspondent of the “New York Times.” The Big Five were defeated when they sought to limit the scope of the Assembly’s discussion lo international affairs which affect the maintenance of international peace and security.