NEW ZEALAND DELEGATES

Evening Star, Issue 25469, 27 April 1945, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND DELEGATES

LED BY PRIME MINISTER (By an Official Correspondent.)

SAN FRANCISCO, April 25

The war never seemed as hard to report as it does at first sight of this great gathering, which in the midst of war is looking for a way to peace. But then, of course, one never saw 46 nations represented on a single battlefield as they are represented here. One never saw, even in the extraordinary blend of nationalities that is Piccadilly Circus or Italy or Cairo in war time, so nearly complete a mixture of races, creeds,' and'beliefs as this. And ono never heard expressed such singlemindedness of purpose with such a variety of suggested ways of achieving that purpose—maintenance of a peace that is being won by force of arms 5.000 miles to the east and west of 'Frisco.

The New Zealand delegation, led by the Prime Minister. Mr Peter Eraser, was one of the last to arrive. We drooped down from the east on to a military airfield outside the city late yesterday afternoon, walked from a big R.A.F. Transport Command Aircraft through a double line of whitehel meted American soldiers, past a military band, and drove across the Golden Gate bridge into the city. San Francisco is taking this conference in all earnestness and sincerity. The people whose city has been chosen as its site only naturally have a feeling of intimate interest in its progress. To-day's newspapers are filled with messages of warm encouragement and noble expectation, even in their advertising. In the Sir Francis Draike Hotel, where the New Zealand delegation is accommodated with Australians. Greeks, and representatives of several other nations, we are already accustomed ; to hearing spontaneous good luck wishes from people ranging from guests to elevator girls. '