'FRISCO MEETING

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 118, 21 May 1945, Page 4

'FRISCO MEETING

REDUCTION OF ISSUES

VETO ANP TRUSTEESHIP DEBATED

(Official News Service.) Rec. 9 a.m. SAN FRANCISCO, May 20. The outstanding controversial issues have been virtually narrowed down to two—the veto proposals of the Great Powers and the trusteeship of dependent peoples. Other matters concerning which final decision has 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 1.L.0.; the participation of the Powers who are not members of the security council in decisions involving the application of sanction's, and the question of whether the International Court should exercise compulsory jurisdiction. OPERATION EXAMINED. The debate in committee on the veto powei-s of the Big Five was opened by Mr. P. Fraser when he put before the Great Powers a set of specific questions asking exactly how their voting proposals—the provision that there must be unanimity between them in decisions of the security council on all matters of moment — would be aplied in specific instances. His questions were answered by ■ a spokesman for the Great Powers, and the questions and answers were deemed of such importance by the committee that it was decided to circulate them among all the delegates in printed form. After that, Dr. Evatt asked mainly that if the veto system must be retained at all it should apply only to the voting on sanctions and not such other questions as the peaceful means of settling disputes. SINCERITY CONCEDED. At a subsequent meeting of the committee dealing with the voting procedure in the security council, Mr. Fraser is reported to have made a strong appeal to the Great Powers to make absolutely clear the actual effect of their veto proposals, as formulated at Yalta, and to accept the widest practical limitation of the veto power, especially as it affects the peaceful settlement of disputes and the 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 a basis for continuing unity of action within the framework of the new world organisation. He claimed that nevertheless 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 the 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 worth-while security system. EXEMPTION OF AMENDMENT. He particularly asked that the amendments of the charter, as drawn up at San Francisco, should be removed from the operation of the veto, since it would be foolish to put inter- ( national justice in a strait-jacket. | The much-debated question of the powers of the general assembly appeared today to be practically a closed book without any further concessions being made towards the demand of the smaller Powers. The prospect is that while the assembly will be free to discuss any matter in the sphere of international relations it will be able to make actual recommendations only before or after and not during the time the security council is dealing wiht the matter. The Great Powers have taken the stand that the duplication 'of the activities of the council and the assembly must be avoided and that they can grant no further authority to the assembly at the expense of the council. ' Still to be decided, however, is an Australian proposal that a time limit should be laid down in. which the security council must come to a decision on critical matters, and, once the limit is reached, the assembly should be empowered to take the matter over. TRUSTEESHIP PLANS. Progress was made on the trusteeship proposals today when the committee reached an agreement on general policy except on the question of whether the ultimate independence of dependent territories should be specified as an alternative aim to selfgovernment. The committee agreed that the nations administering territories inhabited by peoples not yet able to stand up for themselves under the strenuous conditions of the modern world should be required to accept the general principle that it is a sacred trust of civilisation to promote to the utmost the well-being of those peoples within the world community. To this end they were entrusted with ensuring the political, economic, social, and educational advancement of the peoples concerned and the furtherance of international peace and security. The delegates left undecided in the meantime the disputed provision for eventual independence. GOOD NEIGHBOUR POLICY. The committee also decided that the States concerned shpuld agree that their policy must b*e based on the general principle of good neighbourliness, due account being taken of the .interests and well-being of the other members of the world community in social, economic, and commercial matters. It agreed that the United Nations Organisation should establish under its authority an international system of trusteeship for the administration and supervision of such territories as may be placed under it by subsequent individual agreements, and set up suitable machinery for these purposes. The form of the machinery, its scope, and powers are among the questions that will face the committee at its forthcoming meetings. The committee dealing with economic and social co-operation has approved a draft of objectives that go considerably beyond the original proposals and beyond the Great Powers' amendment. PROPOSALS IN DOUBT. The draft says that with a view to the creation of the conditions of stability and well-being which are necessary for peaceful and friendly relations among the nations and the self-determinatiori of peoples, the organisation shall promote higher standards of living, full employment, and conditions of economic and social progress. Secondly, it shall provide solutions of international, economic, social culture, health, #nd other related problems, and, thirdly, promote universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction as to race, [language, religion, or, sex.