DISPUTE SETTLED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 30 April 1945, Page 5

DISPUTE SETTLED

MR P. FRASER’S DIPLOMACY CHAIRMANSHIP AT SAN FRANCISCO PLAN TO BREAK DEADLOCK ADOPTED San Francisco, April 28. The New Zealand Prime Minister, Mr P. Fraser, played a very important role in settling the dispute over the issue of chairmanship at the plenary sessions and the steering executive committees, says the Australian Associated Press correspondent at San Francisco. In recognition of this service Mr Stettinius to-day sent Mr Fraser a message thanking him for his part in achieving the compromise which broke the deadlock. > It is learned that contrary to published reports it was Mr Fraser and not Mr Eden who suggested rotating chairmanship between the four sponsoring Powers and appointing Mr Stettinius as standing chairman of the two committees controlling the conference. Mr Fraser made the suggestion at an early informal meeting of some of the delegates and Mr Eden put the proposal forward at the first full meeting of the chairmen on Thursday. Mr Fraser gave it his fullest possible support,/ urging first, the delegates generally and then M. Molotov particularly, to support it. When the Committee was reconvened on Friday Mr Fraser was on his feet several times pleading for an end of the deadlock. He opposed the Russian amendment aimed at lessening Mr Stettinius’s control over the conference affairs, pointing out that the rotation plan already offered Russia complete recognition of her status as the sponsor ing Power and for this reason M. Molotov should be/satisfied. Mr Fraser appealed directly to‘ M. Molotov not to press his amendment and M. Moloto\ then withdrew it “in the interests of unity and for the common good.” M Molotov explained that his stand was based on the logic that Russia had al ways been devoted to the cause of collective security. New Zealand, which has one of the smallest delegations of the entire conference, nevertheless has been able to spread its party in such a way that it will be represented on each of the four commissions and their technical committees established to draft a tex. of the charter. In addition Mr Fraser is a member of the Steering Commit tee.