N.Z. DESPATCHES FROM MOSCOW

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 167, 22 July 1946, Page 2

N.Z. DESPATCHES FROM MOSCOW

“VALUABLE,” SAYS THE PRIME MINIS’! ER (P.A.) Parliament Bldgs., July 19 The Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, replying to Mr. W. S. Goosman (Opp., Waikato), in the House of Representatives to-day. said the New Zealand Minister in Moscow had sent many most valuable despatches dealing with all phases of economic and social life in Russia, but there was nothing which could be described as “disclosures.” As was the practice in all nations, diplomatic correspondence was for the information of the Government, not for general dissemination. If such information obtained through diplomatic channels was made public, it would be impossible to maintain a friendly diplomatic relationship with any country. If the economic conditions prevailing in any one of the United Nations which conjointly saved the world from a continuation of the horrors of Nazism were made the subject of propaganda, difficulties already so very great in promoting friendship among those nations would be greatly increased. Mr. A. S. Sutherland (Opp., Hauraki) said that Mr. Fraser’s reply concerning despatches from Moscow was evasive, and he asked when the Prime Minister was going to place information from Mr. Boswell before the House. IMPORTS £140; EXPORTS NIL

Mr. Goosman said that so far as trade was concerned. New Zealand had imported about £l4O worth of what he presumed was literature from Russia and had exported nothing. Trit Minister in Moscow had cost New Zealand £50,000, and that expenditure was a colossal waste. He imagined Mr. Boswell was hoping the election would be held soon so that he could come back to good old New Zealand. Mr. Fraser said he justified Mr. Boswell’s apoointment 100 per ent. It was essential during the war to have representatives in Washington and Moscow.

The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Holland): What about Paris? Mr. Fraser said there was a case for representation in Paris, but the High Commissioner in London could attend to matters in the meantime. Mr. Boswell’s reports showed that nthad a good grasp of the situation, without exercising prejudice. Mr. Holland asked whv should not the Hotre be informed of information coming from Mr. 80-swell. Mr. Fraser said it would be impossible to carry on diplomatic relations if every despatch from a foreign country was made public.

Mr. Goosman: Could the Leader of the Opposition have a look at them? USE AS PROPAGANDA

Mr. Fraser replied in the affirmative, but added that if Mr. Boswell’s despatches were made public it was possible they could be construed as propaganda against the U.S.S.R. and that sort of thing was not conducive to diplomatic relations. Mr. Fraser said our job was to foster goodwill. No Government could pledge itself to publish all despatches received In diplomatic correspondence. It was all a matter pf cnmmonsensc.