MAXIMUM AID TO UNO PLEDGED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21924, 19 January 1946, Page 5

MAXIMUM AID TO UNO PLEDGED

CHOICE FACING ALL NATIONS

MR FRASER’S STIRRING SPEECH

(Special Correspondent.) (11.30 a.m.) LONDON, January 18. New Zealand's pledge to assist the United Nations’ Organisation to the limits of our resources” was given by Mr. Peter Fraser, addressing the plenary session of the General Assembly. v7e gave a similar pledge when we entered the war a few minutes after we received word from the United Kingdom that she had taken up Hitler’s challenge. We kept our pledge in the war; so we will keep it in peace and contribute our utmost to winning the peace.” After endorsing the words of Mr. Ernest Bevin and Mr. James Byrnes, Mr, Fraser stated that while the danger to UNO might come from over-optimism and expectation of feats of magic overnight, “I am afraid a much greater danger comes from scepticism and lack of faith.”

He added that support given by the representatives of Britain, America and Russia should go a long way to dispelling that danger. Mr. Fraser referred to the admitted defects in UNO’s charter, the most conspicuous of which was its failure to include as a positive aim preservation against external aggression. Mr. Fraser declared that the veto, in his opinion, remained a blot upon the charter. “However, it is so bad that it ■will not conceivably be used except in the last desperate throw.” On atomic energy, he said that New Zealand was not completely satisfied that the procedure suggested was the best solution. New Zealand thought it would be better if the commission worked under the direction of the General Assembly.

Mr. Fraser announced that he was authorised by the Government; to state, subject to Parliament’s approval, that it would make available to UNRKA the traditional contribution of 1 per cent of national income amounting to £2,600,000.

He cordially welcomed Mr. Bevin’s statement on trusteeships, adding that New Zealand applied the same reasoning as the British Government to Samoa.

In a stirring peroration, Mr. Fraser said: “The choice before the nations to-day is to decide to live in peace, observing national and international economic and social justice or face mutual annihilation. The nations must accept peace or perish. The problems of the world are difficult, distressing and dangerous. They must be faced courageously and honestly.”