Anzacs Share In Post-War Settlements

Northern Advocate, 1 December 1944, Page 4

Anzacs Share In Post-War Settlements

CANBERRA, This Day,

Australia with New Zealand, expects to have a full share in planning the armistice and post-war armistice period in the war against Japan. . Indicating this in the House of Representatives today, the Commonwealth Minister for External Affairs (Dr. Evatt) said thette was every reason to believe that the Dominions’ claims to such a share would be recognised by both the British, and United States Governments.

Dr. Evatt, who was reviewing results of the recent Australia-New Zealand conference in Wellington said the two countries were also putting forward a claim for a maximum degree of Dominion • participation in European armistice*arrangements. Unless smaller powers., participated to a substantial extent, ?any post-war settlement would be unstable. It would be wrong to contend that Australia and New Zealand could have exclusive concern with the future of any part of the Pacific region. Without the continued interest and active participation of the United States as well as the United Kingdom in arrangements for security and 1 welfare, there was no hope of stability and harmonious development in the area. “Co-operation with., the United States which has developed so rapidly during the war, holds great promise for the posi-war period,” said Dr. Evatt. “It is essential that this cooperation be continued.” .. Dr. Evatt added that .the Government hoped for an early setting up of a South Seas Commission representative of all Governments and administrations in the region with; permanent secretariat as well as research and functional bodies.

As a protest, the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Menzies) refused Dr. Evatt permission to read a statement touching on the conference. It appeared to have become a habit that such statements were not to be debated, said Mr Menzies. Earlier in the year Dr Evatt had made a statement on Aus-tralia-New Zealand Agreement and the House was not given an opportunity to discuss it. The Opposition proposed to demand its rights to debate these matters.