ANZAC AGREEMENT

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 117, 12 February 1944, Page 7

ANZAC AGREEMENT

Ratification Issue

CANBERRA. February 10. Opposition senators angrily proclaimed in the Senate today that because of a “subservient majority” in the House of Representatives the Government did not intend to allow Parliament to ratify the agreement between Australia and New Zealand. Senator Foil protested that if Parliament was not allowed to ratify the agreement there was a likelihood that the Prime Minister, Mr. Curtin, during his visit ’ overseas, would continue this practice and make arrangements which Parliament could not ratify. Replying to criticism in the House of ■Representatives that Parliament was not being given an opportunity to ratify the agreement, the Attorney-General. Dr. Evaft, said that .the agreement did not require formal approval by Parliament. He said that, broadly speaking, Parliamentary action was required for any treaty which laid a pecuniary charge on the ne.ople or. .which altered the law. ■ The agreement with 'New Zealand was in an entirely different category. It was really an arrangement between two Governments as to how an important part of their foreign and external relationships should fie conducted. No private rights of Australian citizens were, affected. and the law of the land required no alteration, nor was any charge on the neonle involved. Dr. Evatt said lie had arranged that the agreement should be fully discussed by Parliament. In one of two quarters there bad been some disposition to suggest that the two Governments had attempted to exclude other Powers which had territorial interests from all participation in the affairs of the South and South-west Pacific, but this was not so. Indeed, on several occasions any such intention was disavowed explicitly.