NEW ZEALAND’S CLAIMS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 65, Issue 269, 24 August 1945, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND’S CLAIMS

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS. WILL NOt QUARREL WITH BRITAIN. (P.A.) WELLINGTON, This Day. New Zealand would in no circumstances quarrel with the. British Government on international affairs, declared the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) in the House of Representatives this morning. Mr Fraser was.replying to Mr E. P. Aderman (Opposition, New Plymouth) who gave notice to ask Avhether New Zealand had made a request to the British Government, in association with, or independently of Australia, to be a signatory to the instrument ot surrender by Japan. If not m association with Australia, what, was the Government’s view of Australia s attitude in the light, of the Canberra agreement? Did the Minister agiee that Australia was the only white nation” in the Pacific entitled to representation? Did he share the clismaj expressed that the Labour Government in Britain should be so offhanded about the claims of Australia and New Zealand for representation? Mr Fraser said that up to the present moment there were no indications that Australia would be a signatory any more than. New Zealand to the peace settlement in Japan. The four Great, Powers and possibly France would sign, but not other countries. This was no reflection on Australia or New Zealand, which would be represented at Die surrender. The present British Government’s foreign policy did not differ from that of its predecessors. . Mr Fraser said lie was concerned above everything that our. unity with the United Kingdom should be maintained. “Australia and New Zealand have protested against any exclusion in the Pacific, but we were not going to quarrel with the United Kingdom, even if she could not always extend 1o us, owing to international conditions, the equality we would like.”