WORLD CHARTER

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23246, 6 July 1945, Page 4

WORLD CHARTER

Peace And Security Suppression Of War i N.Z.P.A.) AUCKLAND. July 5. The provision of armed force which could be used by tire world peace organisation against an aggressor nation was one of the responsibilities which would devolve upon New Zealand 'with the ratification of the World Security Conference Charter, said the Prime Minister (the Kt. Hon. P. Fraser) in an interview. Various responsibilities, he said, would become clearer as the text of the Charter was discussed in Parliament. Under the terms of the Charter it would be the duty of New Zealand to provide whatever armed force was considered proper after consultation and agreement with the Security Council. The size and composition of it would be subject to agreement. The same responsibility would devolve upon all other signatories. Another important pledge under the Charter was that the supervision of mandated territories would be passed to the Trusteeship Council which would be set up to replace the Mandates Commission of the old League of Nations. For New Zealand this would mean the transfer of Western Samoa, not as far as administration was concerned but as far as general international supervision of the mandate was involved. All other nations holding mandates would be similarly affected. The third responsibility fell within the social and economi: sphere. Under the relevant provisions of the Charter all countries which ratified it contracted to carry out a policy to ensure full employment or the equivalent of a minimum family income. New Zealand had already planned to take steps in this direction during- the present session. However, said Mr Fraser, any responsibilities created for New Zealand and other countries were worth while for the sake of preserving peace. As to the guarantee of permanent peace, he was optimistic. It could fairly be said that as a result of the San Francisco Conference the world was nearer permanent peace than it had been. The fact that 50 nations had agreed to the principles involved showed that an essential first step toward lasting peace and security had been taken. Demands of Peace “The world requires to be seized with the conception that we can stop war.” Mr Fraser said, “and it depends upon the honesty and sincerity of the Great Powers. Peace demands that every country should subordinate itself to the interests of the world as a whole. It means that or it means nothing, and one reason why I am optimistic about the future as the result of the San Francisco Conference is that this was the first time that all nations had ever agreed to the use of military sanctions.” Before he went to San Francisco Mr Fraser said he had visited Westgate and Margate to see for himself the provisions being made for repatriated New Zealand prisoners of war. He was able to judge and be pleased with the standard of accommodation and general provisions for the men’s comfort. He had been startled by the number of men 'hen arriving who needed hospital treatment as a result, of the hardships they had endured. He had received twice weekly and sometimes daily reports since then, and he was glad to know that the proportion needing medical attention had dropped away rapidly. While he was in England the number wis above expectations, but now it was below.