JAPANESE MANDATES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26424, 31 March 1947, Page 6

JAPANESE MANDATES

TRUSTEESHIP OPERATION AUSTRALIAN OBJECTIONS WITHDRAWN Rec. 8 p.m. NEW YORK, Mar. 28. Australia to-day withdrew her objections to the United States proposal for immediate strategic trusteeship over former Japanese mandated Pacific islands. Colonel W. R. Hodgson told the Security Council. “In the interests of a unanimous decision— Australia would not press its proposal to postpone the operation of trusteeship until the Japanese peace treaty was signed. Australia had never intended to delay the disposal of the islands but simply wished to.maintain the vital principle that the final settlement with Japan should be approved by all nations which contributed to Japan’s overthrow. As the Security Council was permitting nations which fought Japan to state their views on the United States proposal, the Council became for the time being, a small replica of the conference of nations which would be entitled to participate in the final settlement with Japan." His instructions were, in these circumstances, to support the American proposal. Sir Carl Berendsen (New Zealand), who with representatives of the Netherlands, India, Canada and • the Philippines, was present by invitation; said that while New Zealand fully supported the American proposal, it considered that'the disposition of the Pacific islands was a question for the final peace settlement with Japan, although his country made no issue of the matter.

Mr Warren Austin (United Sates), expressed appreciation of the Australian Government’s goodwill and its “act of withdrawal” which was in the interests of jjeace and security. Australia’s decision came at a uniquely appropriate time to maintain confidence in the United Nations. After representatives of India, Canada, the Netherlands and the Philippines had supported, the United States proposal, the council adjourned until April 2.