EXCHANGE OF NOTES BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF NEW ZEALAND AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC CONCERNING REPAYMENT OF ADVANCES MADE BY NEW ZEALAND TO FRANCE IN RESPECT OF MILITARY EXPENDITURE DURING THE YEARS 1940-1945 Paris, 13 January 1950 [in force 13 January 1950]

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1950 Session I, A-12

A—l2

1950 NEW ZEALAND

EXCHANGE OF NOTES BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF NEW ZEALAND AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC CONCERNING REPAYMENT OF ADVANCES MADE BY NEW ZEALAND TO FRANCE IN RESPECT OF MILITARY EXPENDITURE DURING THE YEARS 1940-1945 Paris, 13 January 1950 [in force 13 January 1950]

Presented to Both Houses of the General Assembly by Leave

By Authority: E. E. Owen, Government Printer, Wellington,—l9so.

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EXCHANGE OF NOTES BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF NEW ZEALAND AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC CONCERNING REPAYMENT OF ADVANCES MADE BY NEW ZEALAND TO FRANCE IN RESPECT OF MILITARY EXPENDITURE DURING THE YEARS 1940-1945 Paris, 13 January 1950 No. 1 Miss Jean McKenzie to Mr. Robert Schuman New Zealand Legation, Paris, 13 January 1950. I have the honour to refer to the question of the repayment of the advances made by New Zealand to France, amounting to about £NZI6O,OOO, in respect of military expenditure during the years 1940-45. The New Zealand Government desires to inform the Government of France that, taking into account the circumstances under which the expenditure was incurred, it is prepared to accept a lump sum payment of 80,000,000 French francs in full settlement of this debt to be paid in non-convertible French currency at Paris in order to cover the expenses of installation of the New Zealand Legation, and to develop still further cultural relations between New Zealand and French students. The New Zealand Government takes this opportunity of indicating by this suggestion its sentiments of friendship towards the French Republic and of recalling the bonds which have their origin in the long brotherhood of arms and sacrifices that the two countries have shared in common in the course of two world wars for the triumph of liberties to which they are profoundly attached. If the French Government accepts this offer, I have the honour to suggest that the present note and Your Excellency's reply to that effect should be regarded as placing on record the agreement between our two Governments on this subject. I would like to avail myself, &c., J. R. McKENZIE, Charge d'Affaires.

No. 2 M. Robert Schuman to Miss Jean McKenzie Ministere des Affaires Etrangeres, Paris, le 13 Janvier 1950. Chere Miss McKenzie, Vous avez bien voulu, en date de ce jour, me faire la declaration suivante : " J'ai l'honneur de me referer a la question du remboursement des avances consenties par la Nouvelle-Zelande a la France pour depenses militaires au cours des annees 1940-1945 et s'elevant a environ 160 mille livres neo-zelandaises. " Le Gouvernement neo-zelandais prenant en consideration les circonstances qui ont entraine ces depenses, desire informer le Gouvernement Francais qu'il est pret a accepter le paiement d'une somme forfaitaire de 80 millions de francs en reglement definitif de cette dette. Cette somme, payable a Paris en monnaie francaise non convertible, serait destinee a couvrir les frais d'installation de la Legation de Nouvelle-Zelande et a contribuer au developpement des echanges culturelles entre etudiants neo-zelandais et frangais. " Le Gouvernement neo-zelandais saisit l'occasion de marquer par cette offre ses sentiments d'amitie a l'egard de la Republique Francaise et d'evoquer les liens crees par la longue fraternite d'armes et les sacrifices que les deux pays ont supportes en commun au cours des deux guerres mondiales pour le triomphe des libertes auxquelles ils demeurent profbndement attaches. "Si le Gouvernement Francais veut bien donner son agrement a cette proposition, j'ai l'honneur de suggerer que la presente lettre et la reponse de Votre Excellence soient considerees comme les textes constitutifs de l'accord de nos deux Gouvernements a ce sujet." J'ai l'honneur de vous faire connaitre que le Gouvernement Frangais est heureux d'accepter cette offre genereuse faite par le gouvernement neo-zelandais. Toutes dispositions comptables necessaires vont etre prises pour que les fonds puissent etre mis a votre disposition dans les delais les plus rapides. Je vous serais reconnaissant de vouloir bien transmettre a votre Gouvernement I'expression de la gratitude du Gouvernement de la Republique pour un geste dans lequel il se plait a retrouver les sentiments desinteresses qui ont anime lafraternite d'armes franco-neo-zelandaise et qui demeurent, dans la paix, les plus surs garants de I'amitie et de la collaboration feconde entre nos deux pays. Je vous prie d'agreer, Mademoiselle, I'expression de mes respectueux hommages. R. SCHUMAN.

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Translation of No. 2 Mr. Robert Schuman to Miss Jean McKenzie Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Paris, 13 January, 1950. Dear Miss McKenzie, To-day you were good enough to address the following statement to me : — [As in No. 1.] I have the honour to inform you that the French Government is happy to accept this generous offer on the part of the New Zealand Government. All necessary accounting arrangements will be made for the funds to be placed at your disposal in the shortest possible time. I should be grateful if you would inform your Government of the gratitude of the Government of the French Republic for a gesture in which the French Government is happy to observe once again those unselfish motives which inspired the brotherhood of arms between France and New Zealand and which remain in peace the best guarantees of friendship and fruitful collaboration between our two countries. Please accept, &c. R. SCHUMAN. Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given ; printing (880 copies). £7.

By Authority: R, E. Owex, Government Printer, Wellington.—1950. Price, 3d.)