N.Z. Not Consulted On Potsdam Ultimatum

Northern Advocate, 23 August 1945, Page 4

N.Z. Not Consulted On Potsdam Ultimatum

(Special) WELLINGTON, This Day The fact that the New Zealand Government was not consulted before the Potsdam peace ultimatum was issued to Japan was disclosed by the Prime Minister (Hon, P. Fraser) in the House of Representatives yesterday. He added that the Government shared the regret of the Australian Government, as expressed by Dr. Evatt, that this proclamation was issued without previous consultation with Australia and New Zealand, who had actively participated in.the war in the Far East, and who were vitally interested in the nature of the peace settlement with Japan. The Prime Minister’s statement was contained in a written reply to a question asked previously by Mr. P. Aderman (Opposition—-New Plymouth) who had pointed out that a peace ultimatum to Japan was equally important to Australia and New Zealand. Mr. Aderman also asked if this ultimatum foreshadowed peace terms for Japan which would be more lenient than those imposed on Germany. “The peace terms foreshadowed in the proclamation directed toward the Japanese people did seem to convey an impression of greater leniency than the full and detailed plans for Germany as worked out at Potsdam,’’ continued Mr. Fraser. “However, subsequent events have shown that there is no intention to be lenient in the execution of the final terms of Japanese surrender in order to ensure the destruction of Japan’s war-making power.”