Dr. Evatt-

Northern Advocate, 22 January 1944, Page 3

Dr. Evatt-

(Spec., 11 a.m.) CANBERRA, This Day.

“Absurd claims have sometimes been advanced in connection with the wartime construction of naval, military and air installations,” said the Australian Minister for External Affairs (Dr. Evatt) in a statement on the important features of the Anzac pact. “Both our Governments accept the undoubted principle of international practice that such construction' does not in itself afford any basis whatsoever for territorial claims after hostilities have concluded. Obvious illustrations of such a general practice occur with Iceland and the Azores.” Dr, Evatt described the agreement as “a Pacific charter of permanent collaboration and co-operation, and a most important event in our political history.” In consultations so successfully con--eluded there might well be a precedent of considerable value for other members of the British . Commonwealth. In a stili broader field, the conference had been of the greatest value to the cause of the United Nations in the Pacific. The agreement reached had declared frankly some of the most important objectives of New ZealandAustralian joint foreign policy. After the armistice and the final peace settlement following the conclusion of hostilities with ail the Axis nations, New Zealand and Australia were willing to assume responsibility for policing or sharing in the policing of certain areas in the Pacific to be agreed upon. Problem Of Migration On the subject of migration, the accepted principle of international law by which every Government had a right'to control migration as a matter of exclusive domestic jurisdiction, was fully accepted by the two countries who agreed to collaborate generally on migration matters. Three problems of security, postwar development and native welfare in the Pacific were regarded as proper matters for attention by all Governments having territorial interests in South and South-west Pacific. A wider conference would therefore be called by the Australian Government at a later stage. One of the main functions of the Australia New Zealand Secretariat to be established in each country would be to take the initiative in seeing that effect was given to all provisions of the agreement. Thus, the general objectives and particular aims of the pact would be pursued, not merely at conferences between Governments, but day by day and every day.