BIG FOUR

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 250, 3 August 1946, Page 6

BIG FOUR

SHOULD MEET DURING CONFERENCE

PROPOSAL BY CANADA

(Rec. 12.25 p.m.) PARIS, August 2 Mr W. L. Mackenzie King, speaking at the Paris conference, proposed that the Big Four Foreign Ministers meet during the Paris conference, and South Africa made a supporting proposal.

Mr Mackenzie King said he would like to see the four Great Powers willing to consider promptly any changes in the Foreign Ministers’ proposals which were seriously suggested by strong arguments. This course wou d facilitate the - immediate acceptance of any agreed modifications of the dial treaties, and avoid the necessity of votes and -divisions. White Russia’s delegate, Mr Kisselov, declaring that certain Big Four proposals were entirely unacceptable, particularly criticised the decision on the Italian colonies. He said that any further presence of British troops in these colonies would be interpreted by public opinion as a British attempt to influence these territories unduly. Mr Masaryk, speaking in English, was emphatic that the Czech people would not accept a renewal of minority rights—treaties for foreign groups within their borders. He said that if the Czech Government should try to force people into such minority treatties it would most likely have to look for another job. The Associated Press correspondent says, that although Mr Masaryk did not mention Hungarian minorities by name, it was obvious that he was referring to this group which, under the treaties after the Great War, had practical automony within Czech borders.

Record of Czech Forces

Mr Masaryk referred to links in the ■war with the Western Powers <Lnn then expressed pride at the record of the Czecdi forces on the Eastern Front. He declared that Czechoslovakia did not want peace, or vengeance. It wanted permanent peace. Mr Masaryk received the greatest ovation so far, the applause lasting two minutes. However, the chamber, throughout the session, was about a third full. Neither Mr Molotov nor Mr Byrnes was present when Mr Kisselov spoke, and Mr Attlee left before the session ended. Four amendments were tabled at the disputed section on conference rules stipulating a two-thirds majority on questions of substance. New Zealand. Brazil. Holland and Yugoslavia all tabled amendments. Those of New Zealand Brazil and Holland aimed at securing a simple majority procedure. Yugoslavia has taken a different course, and proposes that no recommendation on boundary issues should be valid unless the Allied power whose ethnic or national territory is affected agrees. This is openly designed to safeguard the Yugoslav position in Trieste.