REACTION IN U.K.

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21400, 10 May 1944, Page 4

REACTION IN U.K.

INTEREST STIRRED SECRETARIAT PROPOSAL

TOPIC FOR DISCUSSION (Special Correspondent.) LONDON, May 8. The Prime Ministers’ conference, after the first week’s meetings, followed the expected course. There have been no sensational developments. The talks followed the informal agenda and the general outcome has been to arouse great interest among the people of Britain in the Empire and their deeper appreciation of its war effort. Abroad it may be safely stated that it has had the efiect of emphasising the unity of the Empire and of its standing- as a world Power vis-a-vis the United States and Russia.

One of the chief .topics in which interest is taken here is what the conference's views will be on Mr. Curtin’s proposals for some kind of secretariat to ensure closer relationship and, while this has been debated in life' newspapers and in private conversation, the one place where it nas not been discussed so far has been at the conference itself.

This is not because there is any reluctance to do so, but rather because it is the kind of question that can be debated, if necessary, after full deliberations on other subjects, in which will be given an indication of the various viewpoints of the Empire. So far the only public announcements on the subject were answers to questions by Mr. Curtin and Mr. Fraser at their press conferences. Mr. Mackenzie King and General Smuts are expected to give press conferences, and it is known that thqy support Mr. Fraser's viewpoint. It can be taken for granted that, whatever the majority of the Dominion Prime Ministers desire on this question, Britain will agree to, and on the present face of things it seems that, despite Mr. Curtin s comment, “If I cannot have four brothers, then I will try to have three,” that he may eventually have none. For the purpose of records it may here be useful to give Mr. Curtin s and Mr. Fraser’s comments fully. Foreign Office Status

Mr. Curtin said: “As I see it, the British Foreign Office is now in the very nature of things the Government and is the office which, from the standpoint of the Commonwealth, knows most about Europe and is most intimately associated with, the problems of Europe, but those problem' are so complicated and have such implications that it is in Europe thai situations develop which lead to war;, in which the Empire is engaged. “Although Australia has the right to say whether it should cofne into ; war or not, if the King of Britain anc Australia are at .war, then the enemy may decide the matter for us. As i practical matter, when any part of the Empire is at war, the Commonwealth, as a whole is involved. It is quite clear that "the problems of the world call for a sharing of the responsibility by all who are affected by the decisions. The world is a very large place and we believe that there aresome aspects of the problems in certain regions in which the Australian Government may be better informed and perhaps better qualified to give advice as to what should be done. As we do not know wdrere the bad patches are, maybe we feel that the British Commonwealth of Nations, as it is, is a very effective structure for world and • regional security.” Mr. Curtin also thought that as Governments came ancl went an organised secretariat would provide continuity in the study of world problems which might otherwise be lost. He added: “If any other Doimmon opposes my scheme as a whole, I will still try to get what I can. If I cannot have four brothers I will still try to have three. I want consultations of the Prime Ministers to be more frequent and I want those consultations to have their intervals studded with frequent interchanges of information so that when a problem arises it does not come like a bolt fiom the bll He added that what was wanted was better machinery for consultation Collaboration and consultation nad been much better during the war than before. He had no complaint whatever regarding the consultations _ between his country and its allies since the war began. Mr. Fraser’s Attitude Mr. Fraser said: “If a secretariat will do the job and bring the component parts of the Commonwealth more closely together—they are very close now—-then I am for it. Show me that it is beneficial and then 1 will support it.” He had nothing but praise for the way in which consultations had been arranged and maintained during the war—in strategy, m foreign affairs, and in commercial and Supply problems. He recognised that instantaneous decisions had to be taken in London as they had in Wellington. “But,” he added, “on 99.9 per cent of all matters of commonwealth concern there has been not simply full information sent to us through the Prime Minister and the Foreign and Dominions Offices; more important, there has been ample time for full consultation within our own Cabinet and with other interested Dominions before a reply was needed.” For the future he looked forward to more frequent meetings among the Commonwealth Prime Ministers or between their Ministers of Internal Affairs. That was the ideal all desired to reach, but Mr. Fraser added a word of warning: The mechanical side is often less easy to arrange. Elections might be imminent in one or other of the Dominions or illness might intervene. Asked whether he thought some Dominions might arrange to form a secretariat even if anothoi hesitated to join, Mr. Fraser said: “The Prime Ministers are good democrats and would abide by a majority decision, but the best Cabinets and the best gatherings of partners do not work by simple majorities. They discuss ail questions thoroughly and come to an agreed solution, and that is what I expect this conference to do.” It is apparent front these remarks that both Mr. Curtin and Mr. Fraser are satisfied with the methods of wartime consultation, and it is therefore likely that if they are continued after the war and more frequent meetings of Prime Ministers are held—which they all state they desire —then a secretariat may not be required.