JAPAN’S RIGHTS IN MAKING PEACE PRETTY SHADOWY

Grey River Argus, 14 November 1949, Page 5

JAPAN’S RIGHTS IN MAKING PEACE PRETTY SHADOWY

(Rec. 9.5) TOKIO, Nov. 12 The Japanese Prime Minister, Shigeru Yoshida, to-day retracted the statement he made’ to Parliament on Friday that Japan had the right to refuse to sign a Peace Treaty if it were too unfavourable to Japan. Members of Yoshida’s secretarial team said that there was much concern at the reaction, from all quartold Parliament that he feared that his statement might “invite a misters, to Yoshida’s statement. Yoshida understanding.” SYDNEY, Nov. 12 Dr Evatt, Minister of External Affairs, told the Returned Servicemen League that the Australian Government is to invite the Returned Servicemen’s League to a representative to take part in discussions on framing the peace treaty with Japan. He said.\ “The war will go by gnd people will forget the war, but we would be wrong to forget the atrocities of war caused by Japan.” The Japanese peace treaty was most important for Australia and delays in, its preparation had not made Hie Japanese problem less difficult. The Australian Government wanted Japan to take its place economically in the Pacific but not. at the expense of any other country and no preferences should be given Japan over any other country. Mr Fraser Forecasts Foreign Affairs Talks at Colombo P.A. WELLINGTON, Nov 12. Ministers of the Commonwealth may meet at Colombo during the coming year to discuss foreign affairs Such a meeting was not practicable thsi year, but it possibly was coming up in 1950. although no arrangements had yet been made, said the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. P. Fraser. He said the conference of Commonwealth Prime Ministers in October, 1948 made a recommendation that there should be a periodical meeting of Commonwealth Ministers in the intervals betwen the meetings of the Prime Ministers themselves. Such < conference (of Commonwealth Finance Ministers) was held at London in July. “'Such meetings are difficult to organise, owing to 1 the preoccupation of the Ministers concerned, said Mr Fraser, “but if, and when, one V held, it is likely that it would include a review of all the major current problems in international affairs.”