Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 1947. JAPANESE TREATY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 67, Issue 219, 28 June 1947, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 1947. JAPANESE TREATY

The war with Japan has been over for a long time, but so far the nations concerned have not even met to consider the method of procedure which will be adopted in drafting the treaty, let alone matters concerning final settlement. Recent cable messages have indicated, however, that so far as the members of the British Commonwealth are concerned, they are determined to go forward when the time for treaty comes, with a united voice. Credit for having taken the initiative in the matter goes to Australia which has communicated with the members of the Commonwealth in an endeavour to get them together at an early date. In the early stages it looked as though these efforts would not be successful, because Canada was willing to go to London, but not to Canberra, while South Africa intimated that she could not spare .a Minister to attend. Britain, too, was doubtful, but it has since been announced that the Mother Country will be represented. New Zealand is vitally interested, and although Parliament is likely to be sitting when the conference convenes, it is desirable that the Dominion should be represented. One thing that is not clear at the moment is in regard to the methods to be used in determining the terms of the treaty. Last month it was reported that the United States would “demand the abandonment of the. Big Eout peace-making system in writing the peace treaty for Japan. Since then, Mr Bevin, speaking at the Labour Party conference at Margate, declared that the Far Eastern Mission should write the treaty. That, body is composed of representatives of 11 countries, including India and the Philippines, but little has been heard of its operations. It remains to be seen whether the system adopted with respect to treaties signed with Axis satellite countries and Italy will be abandoned when peace with Japan is discussed. The system of control used in the Far East has differed from that in Europe, and those countiies which participated in the war .against the Japanese, have since taken part in the occupation, and have had a voice in the work of the commission or the council, have a very strong claim to a seat at any peace conference. There is likely to be some trouble over the disposal of former Japanese islands in the Pacific, particularly as the United States is likely to make strong claims to islands vital to her defensive plans, the whole subject will need to be handled with the greatest care, and for that reason it is desirable that the Empire should be in a position to speak with a unanimous voice.