PEACE TALKS

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

PEACE TALKS

QUESTION OF CHAIRMANSHIP FRUITLESS DISCUSSION (N.Z. Press Association— Copyright.) (Rec. 12.55 p.m.) PARIS, Auguts 2. The rules committee of the Paris conference discussed for several hours without decision the New Zealand proposal limiting permanent chairmanship of the conference to France as the host State instead of the chairmanship rotating between the Big Five, as recommended by the Foreign Ministers’ Council.

The Hon. H. G. R. Mason said that if. there was any intention to draw a distinction between members or to influence the conference through the chairman, it would be deplorable. If the host government presided all would be in the same relation to the chair, and all suggestion of invidious distinction would he avoided. Holland and Brazil supported the amendment, but M. Couve de Murville (France) opposed it, declaring that the decision to propose rotating chairmanship among the Big Five arose from consideration that since the Council of Foreign Ministers convoked the Paris conference and drew up the peace treaties, they should share the responsibilities of chairmanship.

The Canadian delegate, favouring the amendment, said he did not think French chairmanship would either reflect on the position of the Big Five or affect the efficiency of the conference.

Mr Hector McNeil (Britain) said he did not like the principle that they should elect the chairman, in order to honour a particular government. All the Foreign Ministers concerned were experienced chairmen. “I hope we shall get more into the frame’ of mind of being one, and throw aside suspicions about our respective prestige and get on with the job.”

Dr. H. V. Evatt said the idea of rotating the chairmanship was com'paratively new. 'lt was quite inaccurate that the Big Five should he joint guides of the conference’s deliberations. This was not the proper approach. Mr Molotov urged that the procedure of the San Francisco conference of rotating the chairmanship should be folloAved. M. de Murville asked New Zealand, Holland and Brazil to AvithdraAV the amendment, saying that if France desired prestige, the signs of sympathy already given to the French delegation would be sufficient.

NeAV Zealand Holland, and Brazil refused to AvithdraAV, and the committee adjourned.