PEACE DISCUSSIONS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 257, 28 September 1945, Page 4

PEACE DISCUSSIONS

COUNCIL REPRESENTATION.

DOMINIONS DISSATISFIED. (Press Assn.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 28 An announcement regarding the Council of Foreign Ministers now sitting in London, was made by the Prime Minister (Mr Eraser) yesterday. He said that the Dominion representatives had been kept fully informed by the United Kingdom Government regarding the work of the Council, and Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and India were invited to attend a meeting of that body on September 18. In common with the other United Nations the British Commonwealth countries had also been invited to express their views in writing on the Peace Treaty with Italy. ~ Following upon consultations with, each other, the Dominion Governments had agreed to issue a statement setting out their views on the procedure adopted by the Council of Foreign Ministers and their own position in"relation thereto. The statement was either being presented to the Council of Foreign Ministers in London today by "the Dominion representatives or else a similar statement would be made in the Dominion capitals. The statement is:— "1. The New Zealand Government has followed with close concern the proceedings of the Council of Foreign Ministers. It recognises that its proceedings will constitute a substantial part of the peace-making process. The council is limited to representatives of the United Kingdom, United States, U.S.S.R., China and France. Such a limitation of membership reflects., a war-time procedure which was improvised solely to meet the urgent requirements of the conduct of the war. So exclusive a procedure, however, cannot safely be followed in the peace settlement. Other nations have played a very notable part in achieving victory over our enemies both in Europe and in the Pacific. "2. Matters to be dealt with by the council are of direct concern to the nations, relatively few in number, which have maintained active and sustained belligerence throughout the war, and who will no doubt be expected, when the times comes, to help maintain and enforce the peace settlements. Such countries which include Canada, Australia, South Africa, India, and New Zealand, have, on the basis of their war effort, a comparable claim to other countries now represented on the Council to participate fully in the framing of the peace. NEW ZEALAND'S VIEWS.

"3 New Zealand, with other countriesj was invited to attend a meeting of the Council on September 18, dealing with the Italian-Yugoslav frontier. Advantage was taken of this invitation to present views to the Council on the particular matter at issue, and these views will be made public when the time comes. While the action of the Council was appreciated as a first step in the right direction, the proceedings of the Council fell short or a procedure which gives an adequate opportunity for full and frank consultation round the table with the representatives of the five Powers or for the effective participation in the peace settlements to which active belligerents are clearly entitled. So far all that has been devised, is ,a method .ot obtaining' views on separate a,nd isolated matters, whereas the problems ot the peace should be weighed and considered as a whole. ' -■ "4 In the opinion of the New Zealand and other Dominion Governments one of two alternative courses should be adopted in relation to the Council of Foreign' Ministers. Either the active belligerents should be given the right of participation on a footing of equality at the Council table with the representatives of the five Powers, or it should be clearly understood that conclusions reached by the Council as to the terms of the peace settlements shall be submitted to a conference in which all .the active belligerents, i.e., those whose armed forces fought against the Axis Powers, will take part and at which it will be agreed that the draft terms of the settlement shall be open to full and free and amendment. The rejection of both alternatives will be regarded by the active belligerents not included among the five members of the Council of Foreign Ministers as prejudicial to the achievement of a just and democratic peace."