N.Z. AND AUSTRALIA

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 November 1944, Page 3

N.Z. AND AUSTRALIA

CONFERENCE CONCLUDED MR. FRASER’S STATEMENT WELLINGTON, November 6. “The consultations which we have had with our Australian colleagues, Mr. Forde and Dr. Eyatt, have been of great positive advantage to both countries,” said the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) at to-day’s concluding session of the Australian-New Zealand conference. “They enabled us to come to agreed conclusions on a number of important issues of our external policy arising from our special position as neighbour British dominions in the South Pacific .as well as those issues which are the common concern of the United Nations. “Our discussions covered a wide field, and as active partners in the war, we naturally take a close direct interest in the many political problems, which the changing war situation throws up, in both the Pacific and' European theatres.” Mr. Fraser said particular attention had been given the subject of. general international organisation. Both Governments were anxious to do all in their power, in co-operation with other nations, to help build up an organisation on sound foundations. The formulation of the considered views of the two Governments must be reserved for a United Nations’ conference, for which it was hoped the Dumbarton Oaks proposals had prepared the way. “We think it would be timely, however, and a service to the great cooperative effort which will be required of nations large and small, if we take the opportunity of our present meeting to emphasise certain matters ol broad principle. For the new organisation to fulfil its tasks the condition underlying all others is that members should fully honour obligations which they assume*. The power of governments to perform what has been promised will depend on the people s support, and. therefore on their understanding of the pledges given. The charter of the organisation should, therefore in our view make clear to the peoples of the world the principles on which the action of the organisation is to be based. The Atlantic Charter and the more? recent Philadelphia declaration supply some 01. the most important principles, especially in regard to the promotion, of human welfare which, with security, should be a central objective oi the organorder that the proposed organisation may bring into being an effective and lasting system ol collective security all members should pledge themselves to co-operate in carrying out by force if need be, decisions which may be taken, by competent bodies of the organisation for the preservation of peace. Also, it should in our opinion be a positive principle of the organisation, openly declarer and binding upon all members, that the territorial integrity and pohtica l independence of members should bpreserved against cnange by force oi threat of force from another Power. At the same time, provision snouM be made by the organisation ior facilitating an orderly change of situations, the continuance of which might endanger the peace of the. world, p e thoroughly endorse the view to which so much emphasis is now rightly given, that the success of an organisation for the maintenance of peace wil. depend upon the support and leadership of the greater Powers On the other hand, it is essential that all members should be enabled actively to participate in the general control and direction, of its affairs. For this ieason we should desire the powers ol the assembly, on which ad membei> will be represented to extend to the whole sphere of action ol toe organisation, while agreeing that the seemdy council should have special powers in regard to the settlement of disputes°and the prevention ol aggres°l°Mr. Fraser said the conference also considered means of achieving the ooiectives of colonial welfare set out it. clauses 28 to 31 of the Australian-New Zealand agreement. “We feel/’ he said, “that there should be set up as part of the general international organisation an international body analogous to the Permanent Mandates Commission, to which colonial Powers should undertake to make reports on the administration of their colonial territories. This body should be ernpoweied to visit dependent territories, and to publish reports of its deliberations. We believe that this.is a national Duplication of the spirit of ‘trusteeship for dependent peoples, and tor oui part we are willing to subscribe to a general undertaking to that effect as regards ‘both colonies and mandated territories. ADMINISTRATION IN PACIFIC “In accepting the principle of “trusteeship” we wish to make it quite cleai that we regard the purpose ox the trust as the welfare and advancement of native peoples. Quite apart from this system of international supervision of colonial administration, which we believe should be binding on trustee states whatever arrangements thev might make for regional collaboration with other trustee states, we are anxious to promote a regional commission as a means by which governments and administrations ol the South Seas area may pool their, experience and collaborate in joint schemes with the view ol furthering the welfare of dependent peoples, and their social, economic and political development.' It is part of our proposal that representatives of dependent peoples should be associated wherever possible with the regional body, its secretariat, and with any of the welfare and research agencies which might be brought within its framework. The establishment of this South Seas regional commission is one of the specific objectives of the Australian-New Zealand agreement, which we endeavoured to further by our discussions. In the AustralianNew Zealand agreement we proposed that in addition to representatives ol Australia and New Zealand, there might be on the commission representatives of the United Kingdom, America, and France. We are ready, for our part, to enter into early consultation with other governments concerned, and to exchange views upon the form of commission. The two Governments regard an international agreement to pursue domestic pol'cies of full employment as fundament; 1 to all international co-operation to promote human welfare. Full employment should clearly be recognise i as the objective of both national ano international welfare policy, rather i ian as the effect of other international arrangements in the economic sphere. Simply to remove some barrier; to trade will not of itself restore or m :intain high levels of employment mid prosperity. The experience of ibis and the last, war has demonstrated to the world that the level of consw iption, in other words the standard of living, depends more on the level of employment throughout the world : nd less upon international trading ag;. cements than is generally recogni ed. When there were high levels of t.nployment and people were in a p >ition to buy the commodities < .ey needed, international trade flourisl id, even though there were such obsti"Ctions as high tariffs, currency devU elation, and other defensive measuros. “Agreements such as those for die encouragement of trade are most n cessary, and it is a matter of imm- diate concern that international discussions on these matters should p: oceed. • To be successful, however, such measures: must operate in a world not

. afflicted by unemployment For, these reasons, the two Governments are* convinced 'that there should be. recognition by each nation that full employment is the first need, both in its own interests and in the interests, of all other nations. “In paragraph five of the Atlantic Charter Mr. Churchill and President Roosevelt stated their desire to. bring about the fullest collaboration between all nations in the economic field, with the object of securing, for all improved labour standards, economic advancement, and social security. The most important, first step towards attaining these objectives would be for each government, recognising its obligations to its own people and to’ the people of every other country, to join in an international agreement pledging itself to follow an appropriate domestic policy of full employment, by means of which they wilh make the greatest possible contribution to the maintenance of employment in other countries.” Mr. Fraser said, the announced results of the conference were considerable, and further results of the discussions would’ appear in due course. He emphasised' that the examination of questions which, concerned other members of the United Nations had been carried on, not in an exclusive spirit, or to serve narrow interest, but with the broad objective of making the two Governments’ due contribution to world p.eace and welfare, and the building up of friendly relations among all nations. “The further we go in the examination of questions of external policy, the more we become conscious that our two peoples have an identity of interest, share a common purpose, and pursue the same ideals of peace, based on the principles of humanity and justice,” Mr, Fraser concluded. MR. FORDE’S STATEMENT “The statement .made by Mr, Fraser as chairman of the conference has clearly presented the objectives and some of the immediate results of the conference, and there is nothing I wish to add to his review of our work in Wellington,” said the DeputyPrime Minister of Australia (Mr. F. M. Forde), at the conclusion of the conference. He added that the conference had been a success in every respect. The decisions of the conference, Mr. Forde, said, marked an important stage in the development ol the external policy of the two Dominions, and the thorough and caretui discussions which led to the formulation of those decisions would prove fruitful of closer understanding by both governments of the situation in which the two countries found themselves to-day, and of the methods by which they could meet those situations. Mr. Forde expressed appreciation of the friendly welcome accorded the Australian delegation, and ol the excellent conference arrangements, and added: “The more we see of New Zealand the more we find to admire, and that remark applies especially to your way of life and your social and industrial progress.’ The decisions of the conference pointed the way to the progressive development of the common view between the two countries m the great matters of world importance which were now taking place. Mr. Forde also referred to the machinery developed by the two governments to assist closer collaboration, and said that as a result of the piesent conference discussions between the New Zealand and Australian secretariats set up within the respective administrations would shortly take place on a variety of subjects, and joint planning on matters of international concern would proceed along the lines contemplated in the Aus-tralian-New Zealand agreement. He emphasised that the climax of the conference would be achieved in the continuing action following that conference, and its results would be seen in the months to come even more clearly than they could be seen to-day. Mr. Forde said: “The basic principles of our agreed policy can be summed up in two words —. security and welfare. We are concerned both with the maintenance of peace against aggression and building conditions ol peace. We stil 1 hold firmly to the ideal «et out over three years ago by Presi- • dent Roosevelt and Mr. Churchill in the Atlantic Charter ‘that all the men in. all the lands may live out their lives in freedom from fear and want. Concluding, Mr. Forde said the Australian delegation would leave the conference imbued with a stronger determination than, ever to work for those ends, and they would be strengthened in that resolve by the knowledge that they would have the understanding and support ol the Government and people of New Zealand. MESSAGE TO BRITAIN. ' RUGBY, November 6. Mr. Fraser sent a message to Lord Cranborne (Dominion Secretary): “Australia and New Zealand conference meeting at Wellington sends a message of special regard and goodwill to the people of Britain now entering the sixth Winter 01. war. they rejoice in the historic Allied victories which have driven the enemy back from Britain’s gates, and lightened the trials which have lam so heavily on the British people throughout the Summer. They trust that in the coming months the common effort o the United Nations will bring final triumph in the cause for which they so justly took up arms.