Premiers Outline Aims And Objects Of Pacific Parley,

Northern Advocate, 18 January 1944, Page 3

Premiers Outline Aims And Objects Of Pacific Parley,

(Special) CANBERRA, This Day. COMPLETE AGREEMENT ON 75 PER CENT. OF THE J MATTERS BROUGHT FORWARD FOR DISCUSSION BETWEEN THE AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND MINISTERIAL DELEGATIONS NOW CONFERRING HERE IS ANNOUNCED BY THE NEW ZEALAND PRIME MINISTER (HON. P. FRASER). THE REMAINING MATTERS, HE SAID, WERE CAPABLE OF AGREEMENT WITH VERY SLIGHT ADJUSTMENT. The most important inter-Dominion conference of the war began yesterday. Following a brief opening session the New Zealand Ministers were the guests of the Commonwealth Government at an official luncheon. They later attended a meeting of the Australian War Cabinet, while advisory experts of both delegations re-drafted the conference agenda, eliminating matters of agreement on which immediate concerted action could be taken. No indication has yet been given of these points of complete agreement, but the main items in the agenda of discussion were armistice arrangements, security arrangements, provision for interim and long-term administration of island territories, aviation, immigration, and welfare and development of native peoples. In their opening addresses to the conference both the Australian Prime Minister (Mr. Curtin), who is presiding,-and Mr. Fraser emphasised the close kinship of Australians and New Zealanders, and the essential community of interest between the two countries. Mr. Fraser described the meetting as ‘'an event ot great significance in the history of our two countries.” He stressed the need for devising machinery for continuous consultation and support in matters of common interest.

under as many heads as possible. Above all, the Australian Government hoped the conference would be a means of instituting improved arrangements for consultation and exchange of information and opinions between the two countries. In this respect, the conference might well prove of deep interest in the history of the evolution of British Commonwealth relations. Topics for Discussion Dual aspects of the topics for discussion were the mingling of immediate relevance with post-war relevance. Mr. Curtin defined the Australian Government's view of the objects of the conference as two-fold: (1) It should ensure agreement between Australia and New Zealand to take a primary part in applying to the countries of the South and SouthWest Pacific: the principles of freedom from fear, freedom from want, freedom from repression. (2) By assisting unison in various matters of current relevance, it should enhance the voice and authority with which the two countries speak in the world at large. A Clearing Ground Mr. Curtin emphasised that one of Ihe main values of the conference would be as a clearing ground for subsequent brooded discussions. He hoped similar # talks between Austra lian and New Zealand Ministers would be held frequently in the future. Some of the problems for discussion would be considered at the Imperial Conference in London. For other problems, there would bo. every reason for subsequently inviting a further conference in Australia of ail Governments holding territorial interests in the South and South-West Facific.