N.Z. Still Pressing At San Francisco

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24567, 16 May 1945, Page 7

N.Z. Still Pressing At San Francisco

VOICE IN SECURITY DECISIONS (Official News Service) (Rec. 10 p.m.) SAN FRANCISCO. May 14. The efforts of the smaller nations at UNClO—none of which seems to have been more consistently active and vigorous jn stating the case than New Zealand-—to secure for themselves i proportionate voice in future discussions of international affairs are nearing a climax, with the approach of the committee discussions towards a stage where a vote will be taken on the main principles. ' In its broadest terms the issue is this: whether the proposed General Assembly of the new world organisation should in effect be a kind of world Parliament with power to discuss any, matter coming within the realm of international relations; or whether this power should lie almost wholly with the Security Council, as the Dumbarton Oaks and Yalta proposals, provide. New Zealand has by now emerged as one of the foremost protagonists of the case for giving every nation, large or small, the right to be heard before a final decision is made that would commit it to take part in war or in rtieasures short of war. On • the committee which is mainly concerned with this question Mr Frjfier has again forcefully presented the argument for this principle* A debate is in progress in this committee (on the functions and powers of the Assembly) on an amendment submitted by the New Zealand delegation proposing that the fcAfflitinbly “shall have the right to consider any matter within the of international relations.”

Speaking to this amendment, Mr Fraser suggested to the committee that the problem before it was how to reconcile democracy with (efficiency. He emphasised New Zealand’s readiness and willingness to take her full share of the responsibility of establishing and maintaining world peace and security, as demonstrated by the part she had played in this war. He spoke of New Zealand’s immediate and unhesitating dediion to enter the war on receipt of a telegram advising her of Britain’s declaration of war. He laid stress, however, on the great cost in human lives which that decision had Involved, and said that it had made, the Dominion more convinced than ever of her right to be heard before derisions were made that .might commit her to further sacrifice in the future. The Prime Minister again expressed recognition of the fact that, by reason of the size of their resources of manKwer and materials, the Great Powers te the ihajor responsibility for the maintenance of peace.. Proportionately, however, New Zealand and some of the other smaller nations had made-a contribution towards securing peace that had been nowhere surpassed. They had established their right to have a voice in any future deliberations in Which the preservation of that peace Blight be involved. Answering objections to the effect that the New Zealand amendment would necessitate a change in the fundamental principles of the Dumbarton Oaks proposals, Mr Fraser emphasised that he could not accept.any dictum that the proposals could not be altered. The Great Powers had made it clear Bom the beginning that the Dumbarton Oaks plan was not sacrosanct. He appalled to them to reconsider its proposals with the aim of embodying in mem the right of all nations to assume their .'fullest possible share of responsibility, and of eliminating from them the loopholes they left,for dilatoriness, evasion, obstruction, or ’unreasonable We of the veto. Meanwhile, In a meeting of another committee, Mr C. A. Berendsen seized a fresh opportunity to press New Zealand's desire to have more specific and podnye pledges against aggression written Into tne Charter. The lack of auch pledges is seen by the New Zealand Government as the second of the wo p»in defects of the Dumbarton Omi proposals. Mr Berendsen made another vigorous statement in which he said: “The ■nailer Powers are being asked to pledge themselves to send their men’ Jo die through decisions in which they nave no part, and in return for this S*t act of faith they are being ofM only a vague and general statement of the purposes and principles of wenew organisation, without any unwrtaking that the Great Powers or any other nations will come to their •watance in time of need.” Such an undertaking of mutual as••dance, he said, must be recognised •jthe core and kernel of any system, “Mutual security. The absence of it vobM leave lamentable openings for •yjWBUf and appeasement, Mr Berendsen also emphasised that anxiety to see the es«DUihment of a real and workable organisation of security was motivated the memory of her sacrifices in wp wars. He said; "We have paid our ®trance fee to this organisation in Wood, tears, and toil.” « is expected that the voting on two critical questions of prin- •£ le he taken by the committees concerned within the next day or two.