WIDE MEASURE OF AGREEMENT

Chronicle (Levin), 26 April 1946, Page 5

WIDE MEASURE OF AGREEMENT

PACIFIC POLICY ENDORSED Received Thursday 7.0 p.m. LONDO'U, April 24. A wicle measure of agreement was reached so quickly in the iirst phase oi the CommcmweaJth talks — those between British, Australicn and New Zealand Ministers — that tliey are lext with practically nothing to do until the second phase, into which General Smuts enters, commences, says the Austrr.lian Associated Press. The niost strixing feature in . that Britain eecepred the Anzac Pact, including reguriai security council'., and. a South Seas commission, as her policy for the Pacific. Another that she fuiiy s'upports Australia's attitude regarding United States* requests on Pacific "bases. It is learncd from a most reliabie source that .the agreement hetween United Kingdom and the Pacific Domiiiions, was achieved without a struggie. . ' • There were eicnositions bur no arguments," was how one ohserver clescrined the proceedings. Another decision pleasing to the Austraiians was, that irrespective of what happenecl at the Foreign Ministers Council at Paris, or whether drait treaties were completed, there must De a peace conference at which all tne active belligerents in the European war, would participate and have a chance oi reviewing the proposed treaties. This subject caused considerahle conflict "between Mr. Levin and Dr. Evatt when they conferred in London last year before the Foreign Ministers' Council. It is novr certain Mr. Bevin won't depart from the stand he thereafter took up and which was rnade effective by tne Moscow Agreement last December. The Australiaii and New Zealand policy regarding the future of strategie bases in the South Southwest Pacmc, such as Manas Island, received unreserved United Kingdom endorseinent. The policy can he siunmed up that there shall not be any piecemeal hase hy base setriement bnt instead overali regional defence arrangements hetween all nations interested in the area, which will iit into the framework of United Natiqns- organisation policy clearly set out in the Anzac Pact United States will bs one' of the nations invited to participate, together with United Kingdom, France, Nctherlands, Portngal and perhaps Phuippines and Java if granted independence. Ko time has yet heen fixed for the conlerence or the method ""convoning it. United Kingdom representatives cleariy recognised the Australirn and New Zealand predominant interest in the South Southwest Pacific The delegates did not discuss any "strategie blueprmt" for the whole Pacific but Austrulia and New Zealand made it clear they were ready and willing to contribute mueh- more in defence than they had ever done before. The actual contributions of money and men were not dbrussed. They will depend on their economic Situation and more detailed di- cussions are to he held later. Mr. Nash toki the Daily Herald's political correspondent that th'e question of the defence contrihution hy the Aominions, would he raised during the : Lcnclon discussions. He said; "Except: in wartime, I don't think we in the; Dominions have done enough for ouri common needs. That question, even il ; it is unpopular, will have to he faced. ' ' \ Some London newspapers, notably the ' Daily Mail and Daily Express, give i prominence to reports that British and Dominion statesmen are considering a proposal for "a new voice in the Empire — a super-Cabinet to plan for all Empire eountries on suhjects of general ccncern, consisting possihly of twenty representati'ves. Something hetter and closer than imperial conferences is envisaged, to recommend action. It is hoped such a body will gain s.uch prestige and authority that Dominion parliaments will be willing to take its advice." The newspapers concerned pointedly base the suggestion on quest'ons v/hich some reporters put to Mr. Nash at yesterday's Press conference

and which Mr. Nash tUsmissed as not practical politics. The Australian Associated Press was today assured that the subject was not discussed yesterday and won't he discussed at any time during present talks." "It is not on the agenda aua not the "business of this conference," said Dr. Evatt.