MINISTERS MEETING TO DRAFT PEACE TREATY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 213, 8 September 1945, Page 5

MINISTERS MEETING TO DRAFT PEACE TREATY

ASSEMBLY AT THE WEEK-END

FIRST TASK TO DEAL WITH ITALY

Reed. 11 p.m. London, Sept. 7. The British Foreign Seerct«ary (Mr. Ernest Bevin) and his Whiiehall start* are busily engaged in preparation for the coining meeting of the Council of Foreign of the United Kingdom, United St' f us.sia, China and France, whose major task will be the dra.. a peace treaty governing the future, peace of the world.

The Council of Foreigh Min loaders of the three great Fowl Russia), at their meeting in Potsc

The United States Secretary ot State, Mr. Byrnes, left the United States three days ago by sea. The Chinese Foreign Minister (Mr. Chang Tao-fung) is flying to London and is expected to-morrow. The Russian Embassy is awaiting word of the planned arrival of the Soviet Foreign Minister (Mr. Molotov). Likewise the French Embassy has still to receive detailed advice of the arrival of the French Foreign Minister (M. Bidault).

Others besides the Foreign Ministers will be in London while the discussions are on. The Australian Attor-ney-General and Minister for External Affairs (Dr. Evait) is already in London. The Chinese Prime Minister (Dr. T. V. Soong) is expected by air to-morrow. The Brussels radio said that the Belgian Foreign Minister (Mr Spaak) vyas also going to London. According to the order of reference the Council will deal first with a peace treaty for Italy. It will then proceed to drafting a treaty covering Europe generally. The meeting will be held in Lancaster House, St. James’. The Dominions Office has announced that invitations were recently issued to the Prime Ministers of Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa to visit London themselves, or if impracticable to designate special representatives for consultation with United Kingdom Ministers. These representatives would also be available to participate in the council’s proceedings if the council invited them to do so.

The Dominions’ Prime Ministers all have replied that at present it is impossible themseives to visit London. Mr. Chifley has designated Dr. Evatt a s special representative for Australia.

listers was decided upon by the ers (Britain, United States and dam. N.Z. REPRESENTATIVE STATEMENT BY MR. FRASER (P.A.) Parliament Bldgs., Sept. 7. The Prime Minister, Mr Fraser commenting to-night on the cabled statement about the inability of Dominion Prime Ministers to visit tendon, said lie had received a message from the British Prime Minister, Mr. Attlee, towards the end of last month on the subject of the deliberations of the Council of Foreign Ministers, which was to meet in London next week.

Mr. Attlee stressed the need lor constant and continuous personal consultation between Britain and the Dominions concerning the proceedings of the council, which would be charged with the responsibility for drawing up the preliminary terms of the peace settlements. The possibility ol Dominion representation on the council, when vital interests of members ol the British Commonwealth were involved, was also discussed. As tar as New Zealand and Australia were concerned, tlie discussion and settlement ot Far Eastern problems would come within that category, as did certain other matters affecting the European settlement.

“I was invited by Mr. Attlee to come to London for personal discussions, to designate some special representative for consultations with the British Government during the proceedings of the Council of Foreign Ministers, and, if necesary, to be available to take part in the proceedings if the Dominion representatives were invited to do so by the council. In the absence of the New Zealand High Commissioner in London, Mr. Jordan, who is on his way to New Zealand, Mr. R. M. Campbell, acting High Commissioner, will represent New Zealand.'