WORLD SECURITY PLANS

Southland Times, Issue 25669, 11 May 1945, Page 8

WORLD SECURITY PLANS

UNCIO Getting Down To Work LITTLE PROGRESS TO DATE

SAN FRANCISCO, May 8. Today’s picture of world peace and security is in the melting-pot. The United Nations Conference on International Organization, now entering its third week, is greatly different in setting from the theatrical and colourful spectacle of oratory in which the public saw it during the first few days. The scene is no longer the floodlit Opera House, with red plush seats, blue rostrum and golden pillars of freedom. Now delegates, in limousines and Army pull up in front of the neighbouring Veterans’ Building and representatives of the United Nations disappear each morning and afternoon through the swing doors into elevators, then into rooms from which the public are strictly barred. A new system of world security is being worked out in comparative secrecy. The Press and the public are given progress reports by the chairmen of the 12 committees of the four commissions, among whom the task of examining the Dumbarton Oaks and Yalta proposals, and amendments to them, has been divided. Little has been told of their progress—because there has been little to tell. DOZENS OF AMENDMENTS

Their real work has been disappointingly slow in starting. Until tonight it has been held up for two main reasons. First, the fact that a decision was only reached this morning by the executive committee—the 14 delegation chairmen who comprise the highest council of the conference —on the critical question of how the committees should vote. Second, the fact that so great was the flood of amendments submitted by the time the deadline was reached on Friday night that there has not been time for all delegations to examine them fully for points of coincidence and difference with their own policies. The New Zealand delegation for one. however, largely overcame this second difficulty by spending the entire weekend, with meetings among its own members lasting far into each night, studying the amendments as they came flowing in from the overworked conference secretariat. By Monday Mr Fraser and Mr Berendsen were in a position to take part in what they hope will be the first discussions by the committee on the actual proposals and the dozens of suggested amendments. However, yesterday’s committee meetings ended without any real progress in that direction.

Chairman after chairman had nothing to report publicly beyond talks on procedure and it became known that delegates had been reluctant even to begin a general discussion on principles until the question of how each committee should take its decisions was resolved. In two of the very few instances in which a start was attempted the New Zealand representatives were able to guide the discussion on to its own amendments. POWERS OF ASSEMBLY

In the committee dealing with the political and security functions proposed for the General Assembly, Mr Fraser made a preliminary statement on New Zealand’s case for the enlargement of the powers of the Assembly and for its | right to “consider any matter within | the sphere of international relations.” Similarly, at a meeting of the committee dealing with the preamble of the purposes and principles of the Charter, Mr Berendsen found an opportunity to state, in a preliminary way, arguments for embodying in the Charter a clear and positive pledge against aggressions.

The brief discussions that took place around these points fell far short of being complete examinations of the proposals and no votes could be taken, but they served to test, in part at least, the feeling of other delegations. The way seemed clear tonight, however, for an earnest beginning of the committees. It was agreed that voting would be decided by a two-thirds majority. Other matters on which the committees awaited guidance were clarified and it is apparent that it now rests with the delegates themselves to make progress in the task of drafting a Charter for a new World Organization.