Asks Members To Have Care In Questions On International Matters

Northern Advocate, 24 August 1945, Page 8

Asks Members To Have Care In Questions On International Matters

(P.A.) WELLINGTON. This Day. That New Zealand would in no circumstances quarrel with the British Government on international affairs, was stressed by the Prime Minister (Hon. P. Fraser), answering a question when the House of Representatives met at 10.30 this morning. Mr. E. P. Aderinan (Oppn.. New Plymouth) gave notice to ask Mr. Fraser, as Minister for External Affairs, whether New Zealand had made a request to the British Government in association with, or independently of Australia, to be a signatory to the instrument of surrender by Japan. If not In association with Australia, what was the Government's view of Australia's attitude in the light of the Canberra Agreement? Did the Minister agree that Australia was the only “white nation'’ in the Pacific entitled to representation? Did he share the dismay expressed that the Labour Government in Britain should be so off-handed about the claims of Australia and New Zealand for representation?

Mr. Fraser said a question of this nature demanded an immediate answer, because part of it could be interpreted as a reflection on the United Kingdom Government. ► Sense of Responsibility

He hoped there would be a sense of responsibility in putting such questions.

Opposition voices; Another lecture!

Mr. Fraser: I hope questions will not be asked which will make the delicate international situation worse.

Mr. W. J. Broadfoot (Oppn., Waitomo) rose to a point of order, inquiring whether the Prime Minister, in giving an immediate answer, had a right to give a lecture to members. The Speaker: The Prime Minister is Leader of the House. He has a responsibility in these matters and has every right to make a statement. Mr. Fraser: I am appealing to members in a delicate international situation, to have great care with questions, and not wrongly to impute motives to the United Kingdom Government or our allies. When there were further interjections from Mr Poison, Mr Fraser asked the Speaker to “endeavour to give the member for Stratford some sense of responsibility in these matters.” Mr. Fraser said he would like members generally to measure up to some sense of responsibility when framingquestions concerning international affairs. Needs Serious Thought. Mr Fraser said that matters raised by Mr Adcrman were serious and required great care and thought both in the asking and answering of questions concerning them. “Up to the present moment there are no indications that Australia will be a signatory any more than New Zealand to the peace settlement in Japan,” continued Mr Fraser. “Britain, the United States, China and Russia, and perhaps France—l am not sure about France—will sign, but other countries will not sign. There is no reflection upon Australia and New Zealand in that. “They will both be represented, and are represented there now.”

In regard to the attitude of the British Labour Government, it should be remembered that at Potsdam, when arrangments were made, Britain was represented by Mr Churchill and Mr Eden, as well as by Mr Attlee. If the Honourable Member would study newspaper reports, he would know that there was no difference between the foreign policy of the present Labour Government and its predecessors.

“I am concerned that our unity with the United Kingdom should be maintained above everything,” continued Mr Fraser, (“Hear, hear,” from both sides of the House), "and that no member on either side of the House will say anything - which will start even the semblance of a diversion between ourselves and the United Kingdom on matters of foreign policy.” All Information Available All information on foreign affairs, except anything of a secret nature, would always be available to the Leader of the Opposition and to any member of the House who asked for it. He hoped there would be less and less necessity for keeping anything secret, because more open diplomacy was the better. He hoped the smaller nations would be taken more and more into equality with the larger nations, but just now the position unfortunately was just the opposite. The Great Powers were predominant in the world at present, as the recent conferences had shown, and we had to recognise that fact. Australia and New Zealand were close together. They had protested against any exclusion in the Pacific, but we were not going to quarrel with the United Kingdom, even if she could net always extend to us, owing to international conditions, the equality we would like.