LONDON DECISIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24827, 29 January 1942, Page 4

LONDON DECISIONS

CONTROL OF WAR POLICY DOMINION REPRESENTATION STATEMENT BY MR FRASER (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Jan. 28. "It wag certainly an inspiring speech in its replistic approach to the World War situation. It struck the right note, and! will have a rousing and beneficial effect on all the allied nations, particularly the British dominions;' said the Prime Minister, Mr P. Fraser, to-day, commenting on Mr Churchill's speech. "Mr Churchill." Mr Fraser continued, "as correct in stating that New Zealand ffllked for representation in the British War Cabinet equal to that of the Commonwealth of Australia, and it is tru2, aS he said, that Dominion Ministers sitting in the British War Cabinet will raise some problems because they must necessarily consult their respective Governments. They are in a different position from British Ministers,-who are themselves the Government, but again, as Mr Churchill says, those difficulties can be overcome." \

Commencing on the reference to the proposed Pacific Council, to sit in London, Mr Fijaser said that New Zealand did not reject that proposal, " but we expressed preference for a council to be set up i in Washington," he said. "We felt flhat as New Zealand will be in such aJose strategic collaboration with the Allied nations of the Pacific as well as avith the United Kingdom direct there should be adequate opportunities for ( consultation on a body composed of,' representatives of the Dominion, the United Kingdom, the United States?, Australia, the Netherlands East Todies, and China, and that Washington \irould be the most suitable location, as sjthe Combined Chiefs of Staff Committee would be operating there. Negotiations in regard to these matters were; carried on in a most friendly andi co-operative spirit betwesn the UnSted Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, and New Zealand's representations received, as always, the utmost consideration from Mr Churchill and the British War Cabinet."