Great Powers Have Failed To Establish Feeling Of Confidence Necessary For Permanent Peace

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 59, 23 June 1948, Page 5

Great Powers Have Failed To Establish Feeling Of Confidence Necessary For Permanent Peace

(By Telegraph) Wellington, Yesterday l . “The hope of my Government which I expressed when I last addressed you that the structure of peace might be consolidated by agreement upon the settlements with Germany and Japan has not been achieved,” said the Governor General, Sir Bernard Freyberg, in the Speech from the Throne at the opening of Parliament this afternoon. “Hopes for peace and, in<deed, the very Charter for maintaining the harc£won peace, were based on a belief in the continuance of that unity of the great powers which gave such strength to the Allied brotherhood in arms. Differing basically in their interpretation of peace aims, however, the great powers have failed to establish the feeling of confidence, which is essential if peace settlements are to be made and guaranteed and if collective security is to be a reality.

“In their plans for the security of this country my Government must take heed of this situation over which they have little control. In spite of these deep-seated dissensions which have delayed the achievement of its primary aims, my Government considers that the United Nations organisation must be maintained in its full membership in the hope that it may yet he in the words of the Charter a centre for harmonising the actions of nations. ; “My Ministers will continue to do what lies in their power to .strengthen the United Nations and to ensure that its purposes and principles are observed. Within the past 'year the United Kingdom and a nucleus of the countries of Western Europe, conscious of the traditions, culture and interests they hold in common, have affirmed their determination to move towards a closer association. My Government welcomes these steps towards the unification of the moral and material forces of this vital area and notes with satisfaction the contribution of the United States of America towards its success.

“Any question of merging the strength and resources of the British Commonwealth of Nations with those of the States of Europe presents problems which call for decisions of fundamental importance in the life and economy of this country. My Government is confident that a closer economic defensive and spiritual union of the United Kingdom and Europe, which they regard as necessary and desirable can be achieved without prejudicing the’ historic unity of the Nations of the British Commonwealth. They believe further that the other European States concerned will share this view. These matters are under consideration by my Ministers. It is hoped, moreover, that the Prime ‘Ministers of the British Commonwealth. may be enabled at an early date to discuss these and other major questions of common and urgent concern.

“In giving full and careful consideration to New Zealand’s defence obligations and requirements my ■Government have sought the advice of the most eminent military and scientific leaders, including Field Marshal Lord Montgomery, Marshal of the Royal Air Force, Lord Tedder, the First Sea Lord and Sir Ben Lockspeiser. Decisions have been made as to the basic defence organisation necessary to give the maximum security to our own shores and to the islands north of New Zealand, to enable New Zealand to ; share in the British Commonwealth ■.system of defence and to discharge any obligations to the United Nations. In view of the completion of military tasks in its area of occupation in Japan, it has been decided to withdraw the New Zealand Brigade which forms a component of the British Comm@nwealth Occupation Force in Japan, and the men will be returned to New Zealand before the end of this year.”