NEW ZEALAND PREMIER’S RETURN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21962, 5 March 1946, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND PREMIER’S RETURN

UNO IMPRESSIONS FAMINEJFHREAT VIEWS ON U.S. LOAN GRANTING ANTICIPATED (P.A.) AUCKLAND, March 5. The belief that the proposed American loan to Britain would he granted was expressed by the Prime Minister, Mr. P. Fraser, on bis return yesterday after attending the first meeting of the General Assembly of the United Nations in London. Mr. Fraser also brought news of the threat of famine in India and South Africa and of the food position in Britain and expressed the view that whatever could he done by New Zealand to assist the people of Britain and thus also the people in the famine-threatened areas should he done.

“The question of the work of UNRRA came up at the conference, and the tragic position of millions in India and South Africa was explained by Mr. Bevin and by the representatives of those countries." Mr. Fraser said.. “The tragic fn.te that millions are in danger of dying of starvation came like a bombshell at the conference. Every nation pledged itself to help in facing this threat of famine. What is required in India are wheat and rice and in South Africa wheat and maize, the latter being the staple food of millions of natives. The tragic failure of the crops in both countries has created an unprecedented threat to the lives of millions.” Trying- Time For Britons “The people in Britain have a very trying time, particularly the women who have to queue up for supplies, but there is no apparent widespread discontent except in the columns of certain newspapers hostile to the Labour Government,” he continued. “What-

ever can be done by New Zealand to assist the people of Britain should be done, and it will be possible indirectly to assist the people of the countries I have mentioned by assisting Britain and thus releasing certain foods for distribution in these countries.” Discussing the proposed American loan to Britain, Mr. Fraser said that, if it were not granted, it would bring hardship to the people of Britain and result in a shortage of certain commodities, particularly tobacco and shortstaple cotton, as well as other items. This would involve hardship and mean a .tightening of the already very tight bel.t. “But I feel that, even in the face of such a very difficult and in some respects tragic situation, the people of Britain would rise superior to .the disadvantages,” he added. Mr. Fraser said the granting of the American loan was just as important to some American producers, particularly those of tobacco and cotton, as it was" to the consumer in the United Kingdom, and he believed .the common sense and goodwill of both Houses of Congress would ensure the granting of the loan. Dominions Safeguarded The Prime Minister was asked to comment upon the statement made in the House of Commons during the debate on the loan terms that acceptance .vas equivalent to selling the British Empire for a packet of cigarettes. He said he was convinced .that the position of the Dominions had been safeguarded in regard to the proposed loan and the commercial agreement.

“My over-all impression wag good,” Mr. Fraser S said when asked his general reaction to Ihe United Nation-; conference. “1 would say j.t was an advance upon San Francisco. “New Zealand was the first to announce her intention of declaring her willingness to submit the mandated .territory of Samoa to .the authority of the international trusteeship system, and Australia followed soon alter with an announcement concerning New Guinea. Mr. Fraser continued that Great Britain had also made an announcement in connection with Togoland, Tanganyika and the Catneroons. Belgium had stated her intention of placing her mandated territory under the Trusteeship Council, and France withdrew her qualifications and accepted. South Africa, also in a second announcement, stated her willingnes to acknowledge the authority of the assembly in regard to mandated territory. New Zealand’s Role in UNO Mr. Fraser said New Zealand might expect to be called upon .to take an increasing measure of participation jn special fields of work of the United Nations in the near future. The Dominion would continue to play its full par.t jn the regular session of the General Asembly, which was to be brought together again in New York in September and would meet thereafter bach September and more often if circumstances made this desirable. At the forthcoming meeting further elections would be field .to fill vacancies which would then be pending upon the two principal councils of the United Nations organisations and there were good prospects of New Zealand then securing a seat on the Economic and Social Council, which was entrusted with the study of a wide range of international econmic and social problems.

The Trusteeship Council might reasonably be expected to come into being within a year, he continued, if, as he expected would be .the case, New Zealand continued to be entrusted with the administration of Western Samoa under .the new system. This would automatically qualify the Dominion as a permanent member of the Trusteeship Council.