SAN FRANCISCO NEW WORLD CHARTER LAST STAGES OF CONFERENCE

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24571, 21 May 1945, Page 5

SAN FRANCISCO

NEW WORLD CHARTER

LAST STAGES OF CONFERENCE

Good Progress Made VOTING ISSUE not Settled (Official News Service) SAN FRANCISCO, May 19. Major questions before the United Nations Conference have moved so quickly to the voting stage during the last few days that there was an increasing hope tonight that many of the 12 committees will have virtually finished their tasks by next week-end, leaving a few more days for the final Charter drafting and its approval by the plenary sessions of the conference. To ail intents and purposes the outstanding controversial issues have been narrowed down to two —the veto proposals of the Great Powers and the trusteeship of dependent peoples—although there . is no news yet of acceptance by the Great Powers-of the plan for regional agreements worked out by the United States and the Latln-American republics. .. Other matters concerning which final decision is still to be taken include the scope and functions' of the economic and social council, and its relationship with other specialised international agencies, such as the International Labour Organisation; the participation of Powers, not members of the Security Council, in decisions involving the application of sanctions; and the question whether the International Court should exercise compulsory jurisdiction. No sign is reported of any yielding of the Great Powers in their insistence that the voting procedure, which gives each the right of vetoing action, must be retained as an essential part, or perhaps “the” essential part, of the structure of the- new World organisation. The veto debate in committee was actually opened by the Prime Minister of New Zealand (Mr Fraser), when he put before the Great Powers a set of specific questions asking exactly how their Vptmg proposals—the provision that there must be unanimity between them in Security Council decisions on all matters of moment —would be applied in specific instances. His questions were answered by a Great Power spokesman, and the questions and answers were deemed of such importance by the committee that it was decided t* circulate them' among all the delegates in a printed form. They hqve not been released for publication. Australian Attitude After that, according to published reports, the Australian delegation led off the debate proper with a forceful and critical address by Dr. H. V. Evatt,’ asking mainly that if the veto system must be retained at all it should apply only to voting on sanctions and not to such other questions as peaceful means of settling disputes. At a subsequent meeting of the committee dealing with voting procedure in the Security Council, Mr Fraser Is reported to have made a strong appeal to the Great Powers, first, to make absolutely clear the actual effect of their veto proposals as formulated at Yalta, and second, to accept the widest practical limitation of the veto power—especially as it affects the peaceful settlement of disputes and amendment of the charter itself. Mr Fraser frankly acknowledged the earnestness and sincerity of' the sponsoring Powers in desiring to subordinate other considerations to the necessity of laying the basis for a continuing unity of action within the framework of the new world organisation. He claimed, nevertheless, that it was the responsibility of these Powers to consider the sentiments of the rest of the world, and that these sentiments‘•very. clearly indicated that “veto,” as provided for in the Dumbarton Oaks Charter, would not bring about such unity—that it would, in fact, militate against' the establishment of any really effective and worthwhile security system. He particularly asked that amendments of the Charter, as drawn at San Francisco, be removed from operation of the veto, since it would be foolish to put international justice in a strait-jacket.

BROADCAST BY DR. BENES

FRIENDSHIP OF SLAV NATIONS

LONDON, May 18.

The President of Czechoslovakia (Dr. Benes), in a speech in Prague broadcast by the Moscow radio, said that Czechoslovakia would remain eternally grateful to the Allies. He paid a tribute to the “inspirers of victory,” Mr Stalin, Mr Churchill, and Mr Roosevelt. “We shall never forget those who have suffered and fought, and will cherish the friendship of all Slav nations, headed by mighty Russia,” said Dr, Benes. “Our people will maintain discipline and undertake in harmony the peaceful task of reconstruction on a democratic basis according to the constitution.’’

Move to Complete Business REQUEST MADE TO DELEGATES (N.Z. Press ‘Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10.5) SAN FRANCISCO. May 19. All the delegate* to the United Nations Conference have been asked by the secretary-general to try to complete their bnslness by . June 1 or June 2. The executive committee has asked for time to consider the request. The New York “Herald-Tribune’s”: correspondent says: "The United States delegation has decided, mainly, at the insistence of ‘Mr E. R. Stettihius and Mt A. H. Vandenberg, to place the inter-American compromise proposal regarding regional arrangements before the, conference on Monday morning, even though Moscow has not, by then, approved the Formula. Mr A. A. Gromyko (Russia) told the Big Five that no word has so far been received from Moscow regarding regional security or trusteeships. “Latin-American sources were informed to-day that Mr Gromyko has attached a memorandum to the text of the compromise proposal stating that the Russian delegation seriously questioned the principle ana had accordingly asked Moscow for instructions. The Latin-American representatives were now seeking the small nations’ aid in preserving the interAmerican security plan.’ The "New York Times’’ correspondent says: “Mr Stettinius officially explained the American reasons for preferring the word ‘self-government’ to ‘independence’ as the objective of the trusteeship of territories. The United States considers the term ‘self-govern-ment’ would include ‘independence’ as the goal for any territory whose people' wanted it and were prepared for Independence, but it would also include the people’s right to choose some other status if they desired. The Philippines was an example of American policy. “It is • reported that British and American circles are informally discussing the possibility of proposing changes in the trusteeship commit sion’s constitution providing that all noq-mandatory members of the Big Five—ref erring particularly to Russia and China—would automatically be members. Presumably it is hoped that Russia and China, in exchange, will not insist on the use of the word ‘lll- - ” Definition of “Aggression” The United Press correspondent says Ecuador’s Foreign Minister (Senor C. P. Henriquez), who is chairman of the committee on endorsement of arrangements, told the press that Britain, the United States, Russia, and China opposed any specified definition in the World Charter of the words “aggression” or “aggressor.” The Big Four preferred to leave the question to the Security Council, The “New York Times” says that although the Danish Minister to Washington is reported to have left Copenhagen en route for UNCIO, no invitation has been issued to the Danes and admittance has not been’discussed by the “steering committee.” The New York "Herald-Tribune" says, “Switzerland will be barred permanently from the world organisation if UNCIO accepts the French proposal made to the committee on membership. France mov,ed that it be explicitly written into the World Charter that membership of the world organisation is incompatible with a national policy of neutrality, “The committee, after a two days’ debate, accepted the proposals with the proviso that the clause be written into the preamble rather than the Charter. Russia strongly supported France, whose representatives freely admitted that Switzerland was aimed at as the League of Nations Convention in 1919.” The .Australian proposal that the General Assembly have power to discuss and make recommendations concerning any matter in the sphere of international relations outside the jurisdiction of the Security Council was passed with acclamation by the committee on the powers of the General Assembly. The Australian amendment reached the full committee after the sub-com-mittee had attempted to exclude it as unnecessary. The Australian delegates pleaded that it was their belief that the General Assembly should have the widest possible powers. Dr. H.'V. Evatt said the committee’s action opened the way for the Assembly to become a truly effective forum for matters of international concern. ' Australia has been appointed to the sub-committee to prepare a . complete redraft of the Dumbarton Oaks text referring to this subject.

BIG FIVE VETO POWERS

CLAIMS OF SMALL NATIONS

SAN FRANCISCO, May 18. The Prime Minister of New Zealand (Mr Fraser) and Dr. H, V. Evatt (Australia) led the small nations’' attack against the veto powers of the Big Five in a lengthy meeting of the committee on Security Council procedures at the United Nations Conference on Thursday night. In response to questions by Mr Fraser, Sir Alexander Cadogan defended the Yalta decision requiring Big Five unanimity upon the use of force. However, Sir Alexander Cadogan pointed the way'towards some modification in the case of a preliminary peaceful settlement. He said the British view of the Yalta agreement was that there would be no veto on having the council consider a threatening situation, whether or not a Big Five member was involved in it. Furthermore, the results of the investigation could be made known by the Security Council, although the council could not formally brand a Great Power as an aggressor. Dr. Evatt advanced Australia’s agrument for the elimination of any kind of veto by any big Powers in the investigation of a peaceful settlement of disputes. The Associated Press says that there is a possibility that the Australian view may be adopted if Russian agreement is obtained, but all Russian decisions are apparently in abeyance at present, awaiting word from Moscow. The Associated Press points out <that the small nations now realise that thjjy have no hope of removing the Big Fiyft veto on the use of force, for which reason they are concentrating on jfcf moving the veto in the, preliminary stages of a peaceful settlement. while, it is learned that considefShM support is building up behind the tralian proposal that the United. |wtions .pledge respect for each other’s territorial integrity and politicatlhd#pendence. The small nations fgvqjfr the pledge as a protection against;|s|» sible aggression; also as a conefite approach to the definition of aggression.

HITLERS FATE HIS STENOGRAPHER’S THEORY (Rec. 7.30 p.m.)' LONDON, Star, ,» Bernard Hergesell, the £heiiM|p: writer who recorded Hitler’s moßtifitimate meetings since 194& told correspondents at Berchtesgaaen was likely Colonel Guenicbe, u,'«K jutant In charge of the .undetirMpf chancellery, in its last hours, killed Hitler—with Hitler’s knowledge. Hergesell said Colonel Quenw&e’a specific assignment was to kill Hitler,, dispose of his body in such Why the Russians could, not possibly find ik . and then turn hie gun on hhnselL ■