AGREEMENT REACHED

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVII, Issue 23202, 16 May 1945, Page 5

AGREEMENT REACHED

Trusteeship System Final Approval Awaited By Telegraph—N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright (10.50 p.m.) SAN FRANCISCO, May 14. The New York “HeraldTribune” says that the British and American delegations have reached agreement on the trusteeship system. It has been referred to London and Washington for approval. If approved, it will still be necessary to consider the position in the light of suggestions by China and Russia. The Chinese ideas are not expected to meet opposition, but Russian ideas will give rise to considerable argument. Jewish groups asked that consideration be given to the status of Palestine. This was rejected on the grounds that the committee is determined to avoid discussing any particular territory. The correspondent of the “HeraldTribune” says that the agreement reached between the British and American representatives is on three main issues:— (1) The British desire for one overall mandatory system and the American backing of a dual system relating to trusteeships and other strategic areas. In a tentative agreement it was decided that it should be possible to designate certain areas as strategic, but that the British objections should be met by authorising the Security Council to devolve on to the Trusteeship Commission all matters affecting social and economic problems in those areas. This would assure a certain amount of supervision of native problems by the world organisation, while allowing the trustees a free hand in matters relating purely to the strategic position of certain areas. (2) Whether discriminatory policies (regarding trade barriers and immigration) should be allowed in a trusteeship area. This problem was settled by an agreement that there shall be no discriminatory practices against afiy members of the United Nations unless it can be shown that such discrimination is necessary in the interests of the purposes and principles laid down by the Trusteeship Commission and which will eventually be of benefit to the people of the trusteeship. (3) Whether trusteeships might be inspected at regular intervals by representatives of the world organisation. The British opposed this inspection on the grounds that roving groups of inspectors were inclined to do more harm than good. The United States maintained that, unless some kind of inspection was established, native populations would remain completely unprotected. Agreement was reached on a decision that the Trusteeship Commission should have the right to send inspecting bodies at fixed intervals to the trusteeships, unless the mandatory Power can show that the inspections create civil or other disturbances. Latin-American Formula The correspondent of the “New York Times” says that when the LatinAmerican formula for dealing with the regional problem was proposed to the Big Five, the British pointed out that, if it mentioned the Act of Chapultepec. the Arab League States would insist on a similar right, thereby greatly complicating the Palestine problem. It would also invite other regional groups to seek the right of independent action. Consequently, the American formula was rewritten to emphasise three points:— (1) Each nation had ths inviolable right of self defence. (2) In the event of an attack on a nation or group of nations, the group had a right to take action individually or collectively against the aggressor. (3) That these States should account for their actions to the Security Council and not interfere with the Security Council’s right to take whatever action was felt necessary to maintain or restore international peace and security. Near a Solution The Mexican Foreign Minister (Senor Padilla) said: “We are very near the solution.” He indicated that the Latin-American Republics would be prepared to compromise on a specific recognition of the Act of Chapultepec as such. The correspondent of the New York “Herald-Tribune” says that the new world court to be established under a statute being drafted at San Francisco will have headquarters at The Hague, but the tribunal may sit anywhere else if its member judges wish. If the Commission on Judicial Organisation and the full UNCIO uphold the decision reached to-day by the World Court Committee on this point, there is nothing to prevent the Court from holding a term in Washington, London or Paris. It was understood that the committee desired to protect the validity of all the Court’s decisions, regardless of where it met. Had the old Court met anywhere except at The Hague doubt would be cast upon the legality of the findings, because of the wording of the statutes. The Associated American Press correspondent says that Russia has suggested that Prague should be the seat of the new United Nations organisation. One American official estimated that 45 American cities want to become the new Geneva. Philadelphia’s claims are supported by 30 United States governors. Sanctity Of Treaties N.Z. Proposals Criticised (11.55 p.m.) SAN FRANCISCO. May 14. M. Dmitry Manuilsky, chief of the Ukrainian delegation and- chairman of the committee for the preamble to the world charter, told a Press conference that it may be beyond the purview of the San Francisco Conference to approve New Zealand’s proposals to guarantee the sanctity of treaties of territorial integrity of the nations in the world organisation. Tire guarantee of territorial integrity might prevent territorial exchange by agreement. The conference committee of the Security Council approved the recommendation that France be given a permanent Council seat.