DOMINION VIEW STATED

Southland Times, Issue 24655, 29 January 1942, Page 4

DOMINION VIEW STATED

REPRESENTATION ON WAR CABINET SOME PROBLEMS TO BE OVERCOME WELLINGTON, January 28. “It was certainly an inspiring speech in its realistic approach to the world warsituation. 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 (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) in commenting on Mr Churchill’s speech. <

“Mr Churchill,” continued Mr Fraser, “is correct in stating that New Zealand has asked for representation in the British War Cabinet co-equal with the Commonwealth of Australia, and it is true, as he says, that the 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.”

Commenting on the reference to the proposed Pacific Council to sit in London, Mr Fraser said New Zealand did not reject that proposal, “but we expressed preference for a council to be set up in Washington,” he said. “We felt that as New Zealand will be in such close strategic collaboration with the Allied nations of the Pacific as well as with 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 Indies and China, and that Washington would be the most suitable location—where the Combined Chiefs of Staff Committee would be operating. The negotiations on these matters were carried on in the most friendly and co-operative spirit between the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand and New Zealand’s representations received, as always, the utmost consideration from Mr Churchill and the British War Cabinet.”