IMPORTANCE OF CONFERENCE

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25273, 27 August 1947, Page 7

IMPORTANCE OF CONFERENCE

Mr Fraser Speaks For N.Z.

FUTURE PEACE IN PACIFIC (Rec. 11 p.m.) CANBERRA, August 28, The Prime Minister of New Zealand (Mr P. Fraser), speaking at the opening ol the Canberra conference, said that the conference was very important because it could determine the future happiness of the British people. Th* conference was a friendly gathering of representatives whose decisions would influence the peace conference on Japan to be called by the United. States. There would be no attempt to line up a policy against any other nation, said Mr Fraser. All the other nations in the Pacific were important to the future civilisation of the Pacific, whether they were American, Russian, Chinese, or anybody else. The British Commonwealth of Nations wished to work in peace and goodwill with them all. No irretrievable decisions would be made this week, but sa a result of the discussions the Empire representatives would be able to go to the Japanese peace conference with an open mind and a clearer conception of what was necessary for a satisfactory and enduring Pacific peace. Mr Fraser added that the British Commonwealth was thankful for the settlement in India. The “family circle" would have liked to have seen Pandit Nehru and Mr Jinnah present. “We feel grateful to the great assistance given to the unity of the Empire by these two grest statesmen," he said. “We wont Indian and Pakistan delegates to feel that we are all here as brothers.*