MR FRASER IN CANADA

Grey River Argus, 3 July 1944, Page 5

MR FRASER IN CANADA

ELOQUENT ADDRESS

To Canadian Parliament

OTTAWA, June 30. “The Allied victory over Germany cannot be delayed very long, said the Prime Minister of New Zealand (Rt Hon. P. Fraser), addressing a joint meeting of the Canadian House of Commons. “When it is achieved, the combined chiefs of staff m London and Washington will turn their full attention to Japan. Then we expect Mr. Mackenzie King, Mr. Chui ch ill, and others leaders to come to New Zealand and Australia to see what is being done and direct the aaMr. Fraser added: “All the territories liberated from the enemy, must be returned to the countries to which they belonged before the war, because unless the United Nations keep their word that they are not fighting this war for territorial gains, faith in us will be shaken.” ' Mr. Fraser told a press conference. “It is no good at all for the Commonwealth of Nations to enter international organisations en bloc. Indicating his approval of Mr. Mackenzzie King’s stand that each Dominion should speak for itself in foreign policy, Mr. Fraser declared: “Collaboration, consultation, ana mutual help in peace and war, yes, but subordination, no.” He added that New Zealand’ freely conceded the right of the United Kingdom, Russia, China, and the United States to be permanent members ot the council of the post-war world organisation, in which New Zealand, as a member of the assembly, _ would have a turn at membership m the council with other smaller Powers. (Official News Service). (Rec. 8.30.) OTTAWA, July 1. Principles for which men of the United Nations have fought and diea, and the debt owed them by the living, were expounded by the New Zealand Prime Minister. Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, in the Canadian House of Parliament to-day, with an air of s.ncerity and a depth of feeling that brought his audience to their feel | with loud applause, tie spoke before a joint assembly of the Senate ana the House of Commons, and crowdea public galleries, and told them of his satisfaction with the progress of the war, h.s confidence in the future, ano his “serious and earnest” insistence that sacrifices which were making victory possible must not be in vain. Mr. Fraser reiterated what he has said often in London—that it was the declared pol.cy of the United Kingdom and Dominions that they were not out for aggrandisement, nor tv conquer or dominate anybody, Ihey were out to free mankind. The nations that had been overcome by the enemy must be fully restored, and su must their territories be restored in whatever sea they might be. Otherwise, tne very foundations of truth would be shaken ,anq would fall, ana. there would be no resting place ter honour in the world. “The princ.pies of the Atlantic Charter are not platitudes. Tney are principles that must be honoured, because thousands have d.ed for them, he said. “I meal’d it said once that there are two kinds of enemies of progress —-one who stood still ano looked backwards, and the other who looked forward and stood still. After ihe last war, promises were made m good faith, but as the years came ano went, instead of those promises being fulfilled, ’there grew up an overwhelming sense of impossibility, an overpowering feeling that it could not be done, and so, instead of enthusiasm, on the part of the people, especially the young people, who had fought the war, we had cynicism and disappointment and despair. We must give faith this time to our young people. We must tell them that, as they have fought and as they will win the wai, so will they help to garner the fruits of victory. If that is not done, there can be no doubt that forces of despair will develop into reaction, ana once more the ground will be ripe for seeds of Nazism and Fascism, and democracy’s chance will be finally gone. There are conferences being held to help the world towards a better day, —conferences on commercial questions, monetary and financial matters, food, production,—conferences that do much credit to the good heart of the democracies. There would be a black outlook for the world unless the mass of the people feel that, in return for their efforts on land and sea, in the air, in the workshops and farms, the mines and the factories, the new world is to be made a reality, and that the leaders of the nations were in earnest when they preached fundamental democracy—not only political ,democrcacy but educational, economic and social democracy.”

Thirty young New Zealand air trainees were among Mr. Fraser’s listeners in the gallery of the House. The Prime Minister and Mrs. Fraser met them later, when they attended .a reception given bv the acting-High Commissioner, Mr. R. M. Firth and Mrs. Firth. During their two-days’ stav in Ottawa, Mr. and Mrs. Fraser are the guests of the Governor-Gen-eral, Lord Athlone and Princess Alice at Government House. U.S A. AND PACIFIC (Rec. 12.30) OTTAWA, J'une 30. At. a Press conference, New Zealand’u Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, discussing F'acific problems, said that an hour’s round-table conversation when the time came, should be sufficient for a complete agreement between the United States and all other Pacific countries regarding future organisation of territor'es and bases. Mr Fraser supported the idea of the greatest possible international freedom of the air with international control. At the same time it was only right that the British flag should be among those flown on the Pacific a'r line. After Mr Fraser's speech, the Mutual Aid Agreement between Canada and New Zealand was tabled in the House of Commons. The agreement, couched in the same general terms as those Canada has completed with qt’ier United Nations, nrovides that' materials supplied .to New Zealand bv Canada will be used in the prosecution of the war may cnlv be sold to other countries with Canadian consent. Canada retains the title to cargo ships delivered to New Zealand and Canada, after the war. mav request a transfer to Canadian forces outside Canada of any war supplies or a return to Canada of serviceable aircraft or automotive equipment. N-ew Zealand in turn egress to continue to contii~ bute to the defence of Canada and tn m-ovide such articles, services, facilities or information it may be in a position to supply.