PACIFIC TALKS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21385, 21 April 1944, Page 4

PACIFIC TALKS

MR. FRASER’S PROPOSAL STATEMENT* CLARIFIED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, April 2b ,In a statement, to-riight the DeputyPrime Minister, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, referred ,to a cabled report received froffi Washington on April 18 in which the Prime Minister, Mr. P. Fraser, was reported to have said thrit it would be a good idea to hold a conference of the nations interested ip the South Pacific arid to have suggested that Mr. Cordell Hull, U.S. Secretary of State, should take the initiative in calling this conference. This report suggested some qualification of Article 34 of the AustraliariNew Zealand agreement made in Canberra in January last in which the two Governments expressed their agreement that the Commonwealth Government should convene a conference as soori as practicable to exchange views on the problem of security, post-war development and native welfare between representatives •of the Governments with the existing territorial interests in the South-West arid South Pacific areas. ; “In the circumstances,” said Mr. Sullivan, “I consulted Mr. Fraser by cable on the' matter and he has informed me that the press message in question was based on a rilisunderstariding of his remarks. When He met' the Senate Foreign Relations Comrriittee Mr. Fraser referred at the outset to the conference contemplated in Article 34 of the Australian-New Zealand agreement and stated that lie would discuss this question with Mr. Cordell Hull. He then went oti to refer to the possibilities of having .a discussion among the Pacific countries as a whole, including China, Russia, Canada, the United States, Mexico, and all other interested Powers. Mr. Fraser did suggest that Mr. Cordell Hull might wish to take the, initiative in arranging such a general Pacific conference.” Mr. Sullivan said, in conclusion, that the information now received from,Mr Fraser should remove any misunderstanding that might have been occasioned by the. press report.