MINISTERS TO BE EXCHANGED

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 125, 20 February 1941, Page 8

MINISTERS TO BE EXCHANGED

i New Zealand And U.S.A. i IMPORTANCE OF FRIENDSHIP i Statement By Mr. Fraser I Au announcement that the United States and New Zealand Governments had decided to exchange Ministers was made yesterday bv the Prime Minister, Mt. Fraser. A similar announcement has been made in ’Washington. lhe , Prime Minister said that in estabj lishing legations abroad New Zealand was following the example of the other Dominion Governments.

"The establishment of direct diplomatic relations,” said Mr. Fraser, "will, it is fell, promote still further lhe cordial relations which have always existed between the United States and New Zealand, and will contribute also to the maintenance and development of those relations between Hie United States ami the whole

British Commonwealth of Nations. “It lias been apparent for some time that new problems affecting the nations surrounding the Pacific are of particular and vital interest to this Dominion, and we have large and growing responsibilities lit this area which have to be faced. It is essential. therefore, that we should endeavour to maintain lite best possible relations with our neighbours, and there is no country in the Pacific to the friendship of which we attach more importance than the United Stales.

"In embarking upon tins course of establishing legations abroad, New Zealand is following lite example of the other Dominion Governments, some of whom have been represented in Washington for a number of years. The arrangements now proposed do not denote any departure from the principle of diplomatic unity of the Commonwealth. Tltis is merely another step in the system of consultative cooperation which exists among all lite Governments of the British Commonwealth."