PREMIERS’ CONFERENCE

Grey River Argus, 19 May 1944, Page 5

PREMIERS’ CONFERENCE

RESULTS REVIEWED By Mr Fraser (Special to NJZ. Press Assn.) (Rec 7.25) LONDON, May 17. “The conference has been most valuable from the point of view of New Zealand and the Commonwealth as a whole,” said Mr Fraser, interviewed by the New Zealand Press Association here, on the result of the Prime Ministers’ Conference. "It has firstly provided us with a great deal of first-hand information of the highest importance. Secondly, we have been able to have very frank discussions among ourselves, as to the policy to be pursued in the European and Japanese wars and in the post-war period. These discussions were in some cases detailed, and others were of a more general nature. I would like to refer to a number of these in turn, from the point of view of New Zealand. In the first place, there was a question of further conduct of the war. We have examined strategy and plans for the European invasion, both here in the Cabinet room at 10 Downing Street, and out at the headquarters of different commanders. I had a talk with General Eisenhower. With other Prime Ministers, I visited centres where troops and ’equipment were gathered for the .assault. It is going to be a hard battle, but the outcome can, I feel on the facts supplied, be faced with confidence. Naturallv. the role which the New Zealand Division in Italy will play in' the European struggle has been one topic we discussed. I hope to visit the Division myself, very shortly,, and see our men and discuss matters with General Freyberg. The war against Japan was also covered. We discussed the question of. the contribution to be made by various parts of the British Commonwealth, in the next stages of the Pacific.war. Very considerable forces will be available from the United Kingdom at a later stage. The question as to wheije these forcqs can best be was also discussed, and how their effort can be tied in with the effort which we, the Australians, British and Indians are already making, side by side with our American, and Chin< ese allies. We then discussed, at some length, the question of a future world organisation to take the place of the League of Nations. Such schemes, of course, are necessarily tentative at the present stage, but the kind of organisation which was envisaged is one on a world scaleMr. Fraser continued: “In it member States of the Commonwealth, while standing together for democracy and consulting closely one with another, would rank as sovereign countries, each with its own voice, as they are ranking in the League. “From these more general questions, we passed to specific points such as shipping, civil aviation, immigration, and post-war employment. We discussed the future of shipping in the Pacific, and the problem of ensuring that adequate tonnage should become available for both the transpacific and coastal traffic of New Zealand and! other parts of the Commonwealth. This problem is, of course, very largely still one of production, for even for some time after the war there is likely to be a shipping shortage. The matter, however, was closely examined, and steps are being taken to ensure that ships will be available. “I need not stress the importance with which we regard the problem of civil aviation. Our Government’s policy already has been clearly laid down in. the Australia —New Zealand Agreement. We are in favour of the internationalisation of world air routes. If this is impossible, we support the establishment of an international controlling body, and will do all we can to assist in the development of British services and in the co-ordin-ation of such efforts with those of the Americans. In the London meetings we pressed as a Government for the fullest possible attention to be paid to the development of air services in the Pacific. We believe that a great deal can be done there, and we are determined, as a government to ensure that it shall be done, because so much depends for the future of New Zealand on adequate air links with the outside world.

“On immigration, our discussions were equally frank. The New Zealand Government’s attitude hereon is conditioned bv two factors —by a determination to see that our servicemen and our own people are adequately housed and restored to full employment, and bv a desire to make sure that, when further immigration is undertaken, it will be on such a basis that there will be suitable jobs available for immigrants. It is naturally of the greatest importance for New Zealand to have a larger popula-. tion. But nothing would be gained by allowing a rush of immigrants into New Zealand in, say, an uncoordinated or rash fashion during the period of our own post-war demobilisation. Nor can we be sure that the type of immigrant such as building trades workers, whom we could place in employment right away, w.U be available. He might be more urgently required for the gigantic reconstruction task in the United Kingdom. We therefore, left the question of immigration open for further discussions with the United Kingdom and the other Dominions, so as to work out a co-ordinated policy on the basis that we must ensure that prosperity is increased, and not endangered, by migration. For, after all, the real answer to the problem of immigration is to make sure of prosperity in this world and full employment so that there will be jobs for . people wherever they may be anxious to settle. \ “Post-war economic matters also occupied our attention, and we exchanged our views on such specific topics as the monetary system and trade. I am convinced that, while we in New Zealand can do much by ourselves in our quest for higher standards of life, true and lasting prosperity depends very largely on. an economic recovery of the world as a whole, and, therefore, I have taken part in economic talks with oarticular interest. Before I leave London. I intend to have more detailed talks on trade matters with authorities directly concerned. These are soma of the topics which we discussed at the conference, and work done will, I am sure, be of the greatest value. Of equal value, however, has been the opportunity for all of us to meet together and discuss things round a frank, open meeting. We all ’know each other’s minds on the main problems ahead of us. arid when we return to our own countries, we have in mind the views which the others put forward, and we will be able to face our prolbems from a common viewpoint. Mr. Churchill was through the conference an admirable, inspiring chairman. Our time has been very full and the pressure of -work considerable, but it has been a great privilege to be in London at this time, and to have taken part as the representative of the people of New Zealand in the conference.” At the closing meeting of the Prime M ! nisters’ conference, Mr. Fraser said the conference had been of great

value, and he was sure it had inspired and strengthened them all. He vyas most deeply gratified with the spirit of mutual understanding and co-operation which had throughout pervaded the discussions, as it did the relationship amongst the respective members of the Commonwealth and the Empire. “We have-had an opportunity at this conference,” he said, “to review the strategy of the war and to learn of the plans upon which it is being conducted. We have exchanged views on a world organisation which, we trust and pray, will be divised to maintain future peace. Most immediate and overwhelming in importance has been our agreement on. a policy concentrating on the defeat of Germany and Japan and their satellites, and upon the building of an international organisation and a world order which will make possible ordered political and economic development, and better standards of social welfare, full employment and good and assured standards of living and culture for all.” Mr. Fraser expressed very deep appreciation of the manner in which Mr. Churchill had presided over, the conference. He said: “We derived the greatest benefit from your inspired leadership, as we have throughout the war, and from your great wisdom, as well as from your outstanding courage.” Mr. Fraser also thanked the Prime Minister’s colleagues and Ministers who had assisted the conference members for the statements they presented so ably. He also paid a tribute to the efficiency of the seertariat which contributed greatly to the success of the meetings, and concluded: “I would say that, sure of our aims, we have demonstrated not only the desirability, but the absolute necessity, in the interests of the world as a whole, as well as the people of the British Commonwealth and Empire, of maintaining and strengthening the Commonwealth, not merely as an organisation, but as a mighty instrument for achieving great purposes in the highest interests of mankind.” (Rec. 5.25.) RUGBY, May 17. The inspiring trend of British faith knit together the speeches at the closing meeting, yesterday, of the Prime Ministers.. The speeches emphasised that the unitv of the British peoples was enduring- and unshakeable, and that the British Commonwealth and the Empire, thus welded, would, in Mr. Fraser’s works be “a mighty instrument for achieving great purposes in the highest interests of Britain herself.” “In days,” Mr. Fraser said, “when great military operations are proceeding with vigour, and at last, not uncheered by hopes of success, we have found pleasure in meeting men whose companionship is a comfort, and whose comradeship is strong as a rock. My confidence in the future is enormously strength; ened by all that has passed round th.s council board, and I am sure will in future years, be looked back to as one of the important milestones in the history of our united association. We do not know how far we have to go, we do not know how long victory will be denied or what tribulations we •shall have to ask our people to endure, but we are absolutely sure that they will not be found unequal to trials, however long, however heavy, and that after these are over, we shall preserve in union, in association, the poise and calm for which we like to feel we have been honoured in the world, and take at least as large a part in leading mankind out of the miseries into which they have fallen, as we took in bearing the brunt of the struggle which broke upon us five years ago.” Mr Fraser characterised “the completely frank exchanges’ they had had, as invaluable in promoting understanding of the point of view of other units of the. Commonwealth. He made an additional practical point: “We have not been concerned so much with constitut.onal machinery as with specific purposes. Our aim has been to determine, m this critical tragic time, which are matters upon which it is essential, we should stand united in co-operation, and then to considei’ methods by which we can best achieve these purposes. After describing the Commonwealth as a ‘mightv instrument for achieving great , purposes, in the highest interest of mankind. Mr Fraser concluded: “Strengthened and inspired as I have been’ with the clear ringing re-affirmation by the conference of the faith expressed m our various declarations since the outbreak of war and particularly of the Atlantic Charter, I repeat and renew solemnly, but with great pr de, the pledge given bv the late Mr. Savage, in 1939. ‘Where Britain goes, we go;’ where she stanas, we stand.’”

POST-WAR SECURITY LONDON, May 12. At the Prime Ministers’ conference plans for world security, now taking shape, envisage an organisation embodying the best features of the League of Nations, but firmly based on a conception that international authority must be backed by armed power exercised by the leading nations. The Prime Ministers are paying close attention to the faults and shortcomings of the old League and also to the practical experience gained between the wars. The stage has now been reached where British Government plans on which experts? have been working since the Moscow Conference, will shortly be submitted to the other great Powers. This meeting between the United Nations’ leaders is likely to be preceded bv a conference in London of high Allied officials who will give the peace blue-print its final expert scrutinv. The Dominions will be constantly consulted and their approach sought for any modifications. The Prime Ministers reached what has been described as a surprising degree of unanimity regarding postwar security plans for which the British Government- submitted at an early stage.. Britain i§ anxious to avo’d commitments during the war which - might be found embarrassing after the war. The conference examined proposals which Britain will submit to Russia and America in the forthcoming consultations. Dominion Premiers at least agreed on the general line Britain will take. Meet-* ings between Britain, Russia and America may be followed by another Emnire conference, or possibly by a conference in which the Dominion officials will meet other Al- - Nations on equal terms with Britain. ‘ • ••

Similarly, the Prime Ministers avoided reaching specific commitments on the monetary and commeyc'al pol’cy and reconstruction of ;Bri■tish colonial administration was deferred pending exchange of views on an international plane. I