NO DECISION MADE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26915, 29 October 1948, Page 5

NO DECISION MADE

EMPIRE'S NOMENCLATURE POSITION OF NEW MEMBERS NOT YET KNOWN N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent Rec. 9 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 28. The fact that the Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ Conference had reached no decision to drop the word “ British ” from the designation of the Commonwealth was emphasised by the New Zealand Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, in an interview before leaving London to attend the United Nations conference in Paris. The question of whether or not the word British will be rfetained, Mr Fraser said, depends on the decision of the new Asiatic members of the Commonwealth about their future relationship with it. “ The London Conference arrived at no decisions,” said Mr Fraser. “What it did was to agree upon certain ’’econjmendations on consultations with the Governments and High Commissioners of the Commonwealth countries on economic matters, foreign relations, defence and other matters. The question of whether the term ‘British Commonwealth of Nations ’ will continue to be used was not the subject of any decision.” “ When the question of remaining inside what the King called ‘ this brotherhood of nations ’ has been decided by the new nations, the correct nomenclature can be determined,” Mr Fraser continued. “ New Zealand’s position as a British nation of the Commonwealth will be in no way affected whatever designation or description may be used to describe the future relationship of nations which at present form the British Commonwealth. In the face of aggression, which now confronts the the main thing is to retain in the unbroken line nations of the Commonwealth who were represented at the London Conference. With Inrfia, Pakistan and Ceylon, Canada, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America, and with the support of the South American nations, no Power on earth will dare to threaten aggression.” It is uncertain how long Mr Fraser will remain in Paris, but he hopes before he returns to London to pay a brief visit to Germany.