JOINT TRUSTEES

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 April 1946, Page 5

JOINT TRUSTEES

DOMINIONS’ ROLE IN PACIFIC

DISCUSSIONSAT CANBERRA CANBERRA, April 12.

Australia and New Zealand are prepared to act as joint trustees for Britain in the Pacific, says the Canberra correspondent of the Sydney Sun. This decision may involve both Dominions in the maintenance and supply of forces greater than ever before maintained by either in peace-time, but they are prepared to take that risk. Discussions between Mr. Chifley and Mr. Fraser are understood to have led to this conclusion. Mr. Chifley will make the offer of the assumption of full responsibility for trusteeship at the Prime Minister’s conference in London.

Both Prime Ministers recognised that Empire defence demands were imposing too great a strain upon British resources depleted by war. They recognised that economic and other factors must inevitably lead to the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from some of the Pacific burden. The logical course then to be followed was for the two Dominions to assume the responsibility. Negotiations with the United States on such matters, as bases and mutual aid in the event of an emergency would be carried on by the two Dominions working together. It is understood the conversations between the two Prime Ministers revealed a singularly harmonious outlook between the two Dominions on Pacific matters. The Commonwealth Government has been informed that the United States is'prepared to accept Australia’s draft of a vital agreement for reciprocal rights in the Pacific. The Federal Government is now confident that the agreement, on which hinges trans-Pacific operations by Empire, Canadian, and United States air lines, will be confirmed very shortly. Only a few minor technical matters remain to be settled before the agreement is ratified. The United States is understood to have withdrawn its pre-war objection to allowing Empire aeroplanes to land in Hawaii. NEW ZEALANDIAND LEAGUE MANDATES GENEVA, April 11. The representatives of New Zealand and Australia, addressing the League of Nations,, Assembly, made declarations in support of international trustees under the United Nations of territories administered under League mandates. Mr. C. A. Knowles said New Zealand did not consider that the dissolution of the League would have the effect of diminishing her obligations to Western Samoa or of increasing her right to the territory. New Zealand would continue to administer the territory in accordance with the terms of the mandate until the conclusion of the trusteeship agreement. Professor Bailey said that Australia would fulfil all her obligations until the territories she administered under mandate were brought under the trusteeship system of the United Nations.