War Seemed Imminent Few Months Ago —Fraser

Northern Advocate, 14 June 1949, Page 7

War Seemed Imminent Few Months Ago —Fraser

WELLINGTON, Tue. (Sp.).—A few months ago an outbreak of war seemed imminent.

The Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) said this in an address to the Brooklyn branch of the Labour Party last night. He said the present international situation was full of dangerous possibilities, even if such momentary flashes of sanity as the opening of the Berlin railway had occurred temporarily.

The Prime Minister said he had no doubt whatever what the result of the coming referendum on compulsory national service would be. The overwhelming majority of the people considered that New Zealand was worthy of defence to the utmost limit and that the maximum possible contribution should be made to the defence of the Commonwealth, and they would vote accordingly.

ciples and government.’’ Mr Fraser said.

“The British Commonwealth must be upheld and defended. “If it is defeated, then New Zealand will inevitably collapse, our social and economic freedom will disappear, and all the high standards of living and culture which our country has attained will be hurled into the abyss.” The Prime Minister said that the Labour Party had placed the defence of the country and Commonwealth, to the maximum extent and with all resources, in the forefront of its programme. PAST PREJUDICES He regretted that some persons in the Labour movement, instead of awaiting the Government’s decision as to whether compulsory national service for defence was necessary, had rushed into public remarks against compulsory national service. Those persons had absolutely no defence data on which to form intelligent opinions, but were simply uttering opinions and prejudices of a past age, which had no reference: whatever to the actuality of the present situation, or any bearing on the question. Mr Fraser said he preferred to accept the well-considered, responsible democratic opinions arrived at after much experience and study of the world situation by the peace-loving British Labour Government than the opinions of those members, quoted by one speaker, who had been expelled from the British Labour Party, and whose expulsion had been confirmed by the overwhelming majority of the workers of Britain at the recent Labour Party conference at Blackpool. The issue of national service would be placed fairly and squarely before the electors, and their decision would be accepted and implemented.

ISSUES INVOLVED Mr Fraser promised that the Government would make a statement shortly on the international situation and the issues involved in the coming referendum. “The international situation has fluctuated very considerably,” said Mr Fraser. “A few months ago it looked as if an outbreak of war was imminent. “Then it appeared, thanks to the adoption of the Atlantic Pact by Britain, the United States and the Western countries of Europe, that the aggressiveness of Russia was somewhat curtailed. “I had hopes that the Paris; conference would have arrived at an agreement, either in part or m whole, but such an agreement seems to be as far off as ever. “Anyone who says the situation is an easy one is entirely wrong." ATTACKS ON COMMONWEALTH The Prime Minister said that on every possible occasion the British Commonwealth was attacked, vilified and slandered by the representatives of the Eastern European countries. At the recent United Nations Assembly, as always, there was one chorus of misrepresentation and abuse. The Moscow radio and press literally poured forth hate, even if sometimes softer words were on the tongues of the more responsible Russian statesmen. The peoples of the British Commonwealth wished Russia well, economically and socially, but neither Britain nor the other democratic countries could tolerate interference in their countries from the Soviet group. “It is absolutely necessary for the British Commonwealth to stand with the other democratic nations of the world in defence of democratic prin-