DIVERGENT VIEWS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 12 May 1945, Page 5

DIVERGENT VIEWS

TRUSTEESHIP QUESTION SUPERVISION OVER COLONIES SAN FRANCISCO DISCUSSIONS San Francisco, May 10. The “Big Five, failing to present a joint proposal on V lO trusteeship question, threw the problem into the lap of the lesser nations 10-night, upon which the Trusteeship Committee, under the chairmanship of Mr Peter Fraser, went to work using as a basis for discussions a statement from the "Big Five,” frankly setting forth divergent views. The “New York Times” correspondent says: “There is a possibility that the whole question will have to be postponed for further negotiations after the conference unless the lesser nations break the deadlock. The stumbling block appears to be Britain’s desire to avoid any strong international supervision over the colonies. The original idea about trusteeships, attributed to the late President Roosevelt, was that they should be extended to all colonial territories and should aim to bring backward people to the level of independence. The idea has been whittled down until only former mandates and lands from enemy nations would be subject to trusteeship under the present American proposal.” The correspondent says Russia has suggested that independence be made the ultimate objective of all colonial territories under the new League of Nations. This has introduced a new element into the trusteeship controversy, since Britain and France are not in favour and the Americans are still undecided. This is virtually the only proposal the Russians have made at the trusteeship meetings. There is some progress toward resolving the problem of reconciling world and regional security systems, with growing support among the Americans for a simple formula by which regional disputes should be settled in the Security Council by the vote of any seven of eleven nations. This would deny the veto on regional questions to the five permanent members. DECISION OVERRULED

The Steering Committee overruled the economic and social committee’s decision that the World Federation of Trades Unions should be allowed to sit i,. committee meetings. The committee voted 32 to ten when Belgium and Canada protested. “The Times” comments that this was the first time the powerful Steering Committee has overruled one of the technical committee’s actions and is regarded as a rebuff to the Russians, who had laboriously worked for conference recognition of this trade union.

VIEWPOINT OF DOMINIONS The British Dominions continued to take the lead in attacking the power of the “Big Five” in the Security Council. Mr Mackenzie King in committee argued against putting troops at the disposal of the Security Council without having a vote. New Zealand went further, arguing that the Security Council should be stripped of its great powers and made responsible to the wishes of the General Assembly. The “Herald-Tribune” says Dr Evatt presented a formula designed to bar Spain under the present Government from membership of UNCIO. The formula bars any Government which has given military aid to the Axis since 1939 either in personnel or supplies. Several governments expressed opposition to the formula and its fate is regarded as highly uncertain. The “New York Times” correspondent points out that the conference, like an iceberg, is at least nine-tenths below the surface but from what one gathers considerable progress is being made. The solving of problems of regional questions is moving to a solution under which the right of any one of the permanent members of the proposed Security Council to paralyse enforcement of action by the regional agency is going to be removed. ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS Mr Robert Gaylord, chairman of the National Association of Manufacturers, at a press conference urged UNCIO to include an international board to represent business. Mr Gaylord emphasised economic and social problems were likely to be much more urgent than protecting peace against aggression. The business world would like some representation on UNCIO to serve as a clearing house for laws and treaties affecting business, also customs procedures and compilation of trade statistics. Mr Gaylord opposed cartels. He said a cartel is the medium for stifling competition, and tariffs should be low enough to foster competition.