CONFERENCE SYSTEM

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 March 1945, Page 5

CONFERENCE SYSTEM

FOR SOUTHERN AFRICA GENERAL SMUTS” VIEWS CAPE TOWN, March 23. “I favour the creation of a conference system for Southern Africa on the principle of the Pan-American Union for consultation on common questions,” said the Prime Minister (General Smuts) in a statement in Paliament on Africa’s future. “South Africa does not intend making inroads on the rights, boundaries, and status of her neighbours. There is. no question of an imperial union in the south. Questions of administration must rest in the hands of the countries themselves. A country like Britain with- colonies must retain her control.” , , General Smuts added that he had frequently expressed the opinion that British colonial arrangements in South Africa were not the best possible. There were too many administrations which did not promote * the interests of the various parts of the continent to the best advantage. The British Colonial Secretary (Mr Oliver Stanley) also held this opinion. With the conference system all matters of mutual interest except the native problem could be freely discussed. The Leader of the Opposition (Dr. ,D. F. Malan) said everybody would 'agree with General Smuts, but it was necessary to look even further and consider an Atlantic Charter tor Africa—an African Charter. General Smuts, replying, said perhaps the most interesting suggestion was Dr. Malan’s for an African Charter. It would raise very complex questions. Africa was a melting pot for racial problems. General Smuts said he was sure the charter that would emerge from the San Francisco conference would deal with the question of the religious and racial minorities oi Europe. The tendency to-day was towards an exchange of minority populations which Hitler had tried on a large scale, and which he believed would be continued after the " General Smuts said he did not know what would become of the Jewish question. . , A. Nationalist interjected: You had better ask Britain about it. General Smuts: “They are sweating blood over this question. CANADA AND _ SECURITY.

OTTAWA, March 23. Mr. Howard Green (Progressive Conservative) told the House of Commons that Canada should seek to have the British Commonwealth instead or the United Kingdom given a permanent seat on the projected United nations Security Council. Mr Green said Canadians were not interested m hav-, ing Canada declared a middle-sized nation or a secondary state, but were interested in Canada developing into a great world Power standing beside Great Britain and the other Dominions. . “I am sure there will be no objection to the request in Great Britain, added Mr. Green. He criticised Mr. Mackenzie King’s statement that acceptance of the Dumbarton Oaks proposals would not commit Canada to send forces beyond Canadian territory at the Security Council’s call, and said that even if only a few nations had taken that attitude there could be no peace organisation. There must always be a price paid for the prevention and suppression of aggression. It would be wiser if the Prime Minister had stated that Canadians sooner or later would have to die abroad with the young men of other peaceloving nations to suppress aggression. Mr. Green added that the Canadian delegation to San Francisco must be prepared to make clear that Canada is prepared to make and keep commitments. OFFER BY FRANCE LIMITING "SOVEREIGNTY " PARIS, March 23. “France is ready to go beyond the Dumbarton Oaks plan and consent, for the sake of real collective security, to great limitations in her sovereignty, although she is well aware she cannot impose her ideas on others,” said the Minister for Information (M. Tietgen) discussing the French amendments which are to be .

presented to the San Francisco conference. (This is the first time any great Power has ever expressed willingness to limit its own sovereignty in the interests of world peace). France thinks, he added, that a durable peace presupposes an international organisation on a wider basis and wielding more power which necessitates an international authority superior to that of the various States, and even to that of the great Powers themselves. France knows she must accept, as a matter of fact the opinion of the great Powers who still consider the organisation for tyue collective security as premature.