EMPIRE TALKS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 88, 14 April 1945, Page 6

EMPIRE TALKS

DECLARATION ISSUED

British Preparations For 'Frisco Completed

N.Z.P.A. and British Wireless Rec. 12.30 p.m. LONDON, April 13. The meeting of representatives of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and India, preliminary to. the San Francisco Conference, closed to-day.

The following statement, approved by delegates, was issued:—"On the eve of the meeting of the United Nations at San Francisco, we, the representatives of the British Commonwealth, are convinced that only the maintenance after the war of the.,close co-operation between the United Nations which has brought and is bringing success to their arms, can prevent a recurrence of strife between the Governments and peoples of the world.

"The countries of the British Commonwealth stand ready to play their full part in the international organisation of the future for the purpose of preserving international peace and security and promoting human welfare. We have examined, generally and in detail, the tentative proposals resulting from the Dumbarton Oaks conversations and have had a valuable exchange of views. We are agreed on proposals to provide a basis for the charter of such an organisation, fully recognising, in certain respects, that they call for clarification, improvement and expansion. "Each of the countries assembled here will be represented at San Francisco. Through their representatives it will be the purpose of the people's Governments of the British Commonwealth in all continents to work for the establishment of world order .which will be worthy of the immense sacrifices made by our peoples and designed to unite the nations in assuring to all men in all lands economic and social advancement in conditions of freedom, peace and concord." Satisfaction of Delegates The Associated Press correspondent says that unanimous satisfaction is expressed among the delegates with the achievements of the Empire talks. It is claimed that the talks have accomplished what was in the minds of the authorities when they arranged them. The talks have disclosed that India and the Dominions are desirous of improving and expanding the Dumbarton Oaks plan and that they also desire a clarification of many points. The basis on which the Commonwealth countries will strive at San Francisco to achieve such amendments- is mainly the result of 64 questions which. Dr. Evatt and his Australian advisers drew up in order that all delegates could have the issues clearly before them. The United Kingdom, as one of the Great Powers at Yalta and the only British country which will be a permanent member of the Security Council, held a special position at the talks. Dominion delegates were able to obtain from the British Ministers many explanations of both the Dumbarton Oaks and Yalta documents, tending to clear misconceptions and remove apprehensions. At the same time there remained a determination among the delegates that the British countries separately should pursue a three-fold programme at San Francisco of "clarification, expansion and improvement" of the proposed security organisation. Australia was ■ particularly insistent on - the necessity of amending the Great Powers' power-of-veto.as; far as organisations' of the future; constitution - was concerned. This was regarded as typical of th,£ fundamental faults which the majority of the British Commonwealth countries think should be corrected. Mr. Fraser, the •: New Zealand Prime Minister, gave New Zealand's support to Australia- on practically every question. India also surprisingly backed Australia on .every issue. '•