SAN FRANCISCO

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24581, 1 June 1945, Page 5

SAN FRANCISCO

BRUISE PACIFIC FLEET Go-operatkm With U.S. Welcomed N.Z. CRUISER IN ACTION (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)' (Rec. 11.30 pjn.) GUAM, May 31. Vice-Admiral Sic Bernard Rawlings, commander of the British Pacific Fleet TiA Force, ha* been conferring with Admiral C. W. Nimits, Allied Naval Comaaaader-in-Chief in the Pacific. - Admiral Rawlings arrived at Gnam, Admiral Nimits’a headquarters, on board his flagship, the battleship King George V. Three destroyers which were recently in action in the Pacific escorted the King George V. Other warships which have taken part, in recent actions against the Japanese, it is announced, include the air-craft-carrier Indefatigable, the New Zealand cruiser, Gambia, and ttie Canadian cruiser, Uganda. A warning to British naval personnel to beware of Axis efforts to drive a wedge between them and their American Fleet colleagues was given by Admiral Nimitz When, for the first time in the role of Allied Commander-in-Chief, he addressed British officers and men standing on the quarterdeck of H.M.S. King George V. ■' „ Admiral Nimitz, according to the “New York Times’s" correspondent on Guam, denounced newspaper stories that the Americans did not want the British in the Pacific as unfounded. He said the British Fleet had performed a valuable service in neutralising the Saki Shlmas during the Okinawa operation, and added:-‘‘l desire to Inform you in most emphatic terms that the service of the British Carrier Force was not only very efficiently performed but it was done in a most valuable service period. “You may remember it was saia we wanted td carry on the Pacific war as a private war. I assure you that those statements have no foundation. From the very beginning we welcomed your coming, and are continuing to do ap. . The Associated Press correspondent quotes Admiral Nimitz as saying: Tt is no violation of security to tell you that when the British, ships had to leave the Saki Shimas to refuel during the Okinawa invasion, the American carrier forces were spread out thin to replace the British ships in keeping down Japanese plane activity. As u result American losses increased dur* ing the period the British ships were absent.” ■' - Admiral Nimitz concluded: “You kept the Japanese suicide planes off the decks of our ships. Your services have been most valuable in saving lives and saving ships.’’ COMMAND CHANGES ANNOUNCED ' V , LONDON. Kay 30. Newly-announcfid changes in commands in the British Pacific liwt .include the appointment of Vice-Admiral C. S. - Daniel to the command of the battle squadron. Vice-Admiral Daniel

VICE-ADMIRAL DANIEL. will be succeeded 8B flag officer, to charge oi administration by Rear-Ad-miral J. W. Rlvett-Carnac, who was commodore of. the New 'Zealand Division of the Royal Navy from 1938 to 1939*- ■ : \,v* ■ .• . Rear-Admiral R. M. Servaes has been appointed to command a cru&er squadron. , ■ aircraftgarrier LAUNCHED LATEST ADDITION TO ROYAL NAVY (8.0. W./ RUGBY. May 29. Britain s new aircraft-carrier, H.M.S. Powerful, was launched by Mrs A. V. Alexander, wife of the former First Lord of the Admiralty, a month ago from Harland and Wolffs Belfast yards in the presence of the Governor of Northern Ireland (the ■ Duke of Abercorn), states an agency message. ' H.M.S. Powerful is the first carrier to bear this name, and ts the first of the programme laid down in 1942. She was built on austerity lines. It Is believed that much of her service will be in the Far East. Details of the speed, armament, and aeroplane-carry-ing capacity are still secret. Mrs Alexander broke a bottle of Empire wine on the ship’s bows, WAR "CRIMES BRITISH-AMERICAN CONSULTATIONS (8.0. W.) RUGBY, May 30; The British Government had had very 'useful consultations on war criminals with Mr Justice Jackson, Chief United States counsel for the War Crimes Commission, which had resulted in great progress being made, said the Foreign Secretary (Mr R. A. Eden) in the House of Commons. Mr Justice Jackson, who is the principal American representative at the United Nations conference opening in London on Thursday to decide methods for the trial of war criminals, has had to return to the United States to attend the closing sessions of the Supreme Court. In a statement to-day, Mr Justice Jackson said that the preparation of the American cases would not be interrupted, and he hoped to return in about a fortnight. He had conferred, with Sir David Maxwell Fyfe, British representative on the crimes commission, so' that the British and American cases would be co-ordinated. “At no time has any substantial difference of opinion developed as to procedures,’’ he added. "We are progressing rapidly." Besides Lord Wright, LieutenantColonel J. Oldham and Flying Officer G. Bridgeland will represent Australia, and Mr C. B. Burdekin, of the New Zealand High Commissioner's Office, will represent New Zealand at the United Nations war crimes conference in London. The Chinese delegates flew specially from San Francisco.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY Agreement On Procedure VETO ISSUE STILL UNSETTLED (Official New* Service) (Rec. 11.30) SAN FRANCISCO, May 80. Commission II of UNCIO held its first public session to-day when it approved with one reservation the report embodying the ■ recommendations agreed upon by the committee charged with drafting those sections of the World Charter which deal with the structure and procedure of the General Assembly. New Zealand’s representative on this committee bias been Mr A. D. Mclntosh, Secretary for External Affairs. The following are among the principal recommendations approved:— Every member country may be re- ' presented on the' Assembly by a delegation of not more than five members, but will have only one vote. States whose financial obligations are more than two years in arrears should be deprived of all voting rights., The Assembly, however, may waive this penalty if default is due to causes beyond the member State s control. Stilt under consideration is the question whether the same penalty should be invoiced against members who tell to make available to the Security Council on Its cell "the armed forces, facilities, and assistance necessary for the purpose of maintaining international peace and security.” ■ . The Assembly is to be empowered to apportion expenses among memben and to consider and approve the world organisation's Budget, as well as any financial and budgetary ar- ; rangements with specialised agencies (such as the International Labour Office and the food and agriculture ; organisation), which are brought into relationship with the general organi“ft also recommended that the General Assembly shall meet in regular annual and mat specified substantive actions will require a two-thirds vote.' One recommendation which the New Zealand delegation -actively supported involveda significant departure from the c9rre«ponding-DimmwrtOT . Oaks provision relating to election of tee, Secretary* General vf the -my world organiMtiom mgaet, mittee’s recommendatiott. jjL'fflPfPVyfr by theJWl commendation of the Shcugliy mie by an ifllQsiUyc toembers/* JW* ftht conpmwent votes « .. committee’s recomdolffjaQffl/however, was ,oppoted -by. l - . ■ membfer of the tCTgquence, it tas v tog Committee pSed M on n -/ questions application of tt»f . resentativcs of w ; -:j passed 4 .'a cal and 'security'\ organisation, by?T Votes & %- am^miCTit the sphere of totenmtkmal New Zealand and ' ed Australia, butSopth the.amendment. ... -: v- tr ■- :.y r i The San Francisco *‘Chn>nicle",,«ays* that the vote on thislssiie cant, as it indicates how the nations are Unto? up to support of; ' Australia on the important l vrtoques-. tion. • ■ .... ■ REPATRIATION IN EUROPE DISPLACED CIVILIANS LONDON, May Si Progress in sorting out and repatriating foreign slave workers political prisoners, and other displaced civilian*; left in conquered Europe is reported by Lieutenant-Colonel Vincent Paravinci, chief of an Allied liaison, section at Supreme Headquarters. - Displaced persons of Allied nationality who, as in the case : bf many Poles, do not wish to be repatriated, because of the area of their homeland occupied by the Russians, will be allowed to remain in the occupation zone of the Western Allies. They may, if they wish, apply for naturalisation to the , country they have chosen, or Just stay domiciled in occupied Germany. However, all Russians will be compulsorily returned to the Soviet Union, whether they wish. it or pot , Moreover, all former enemy nationals, such as Bulgarians and Hungarians, whom the war separated from their homeland, will be sent b'ck to their countries, whether they object to Russian occupation or not. Lieutenant-Colonel Paravinci added that about 1,400,000 French, Belgians, Dutch, Czechs, Russians, and Luxemburgers had been repatriated .to May 25, 1,000,000 of whom were French and 185,000 Russians. It might be more then three months before the remaining homeless multitudes reach home. • Steps are being taken to ensure that no war criminal slips out p£ the net in the guise -of assumed identity. There have been cases of Germans trying to escape in a Jugoslav convoy being thrown from a truck and coming to a. “sticky” end. FRENCH PLANS FOR DEMOBILISATION ; (Rec. 8 p.m.) PARIS. May 31. The French War Ministry has revealed plans for the demobilisation of 1,000.000 men. spread over 13 months. By the end of this year only volunteers and youths who have performed no military service since June will be left in the French Army. The new Army will consist of men 22 to 26 years old. plus those 21-year-olds called up in accordance with pre-war conscription. This category will produce 200,000 conscripts in September alone.