PREROGATIVE OF CROWN

Chronicle (Levin), 13 December 1949, Page 5

PREROGATIVE OF CROWN

(N.Z.P.A.-

-Reuter,

Britain Will Refain Right Tr Declare War > r-rf •" ~r - - t

, Covyrzghty

Received Tuesdayr 9.39 a.m. LONDON,, Dec. T2. Britain wil'l riot, surrender thb ! right tb deciare war to sChy other 1 power or body, the Uhd'er-£>ecretary [of State, Mr. Chr'istopher Mayhe'w, [bold the Hoh-se of Goimhons tovd:ay. |He said this was the prefogdtive' ; of ■ the Crown. ; Mr. John Platts-Milis (Independ!ent> had aske'd if the Foreigh SeO- ; retary would give an undertakfng m -Gorinection with the agree'meht |to be' hegotiate'd' urider the' Atlahitic Fact that he would' nOt su'rTen:der to any other power or bO'dy the' right to declare "War oh behalf of Britain. He also asked for ari as(sur'anCe that B'ritaih would nOt eii- ; ter into any commitmerit by which she could become automaticaliy in;volved' in war. . ; Mr. Mayhew, in his reply, added that by Article Five of the North ; Atlantic Treaty Britain was comjmitted in the event of an armed, |attack on any parties in Europe or North America to take sh6h action | as was deemed necessary, including ith'e u'se of armed force, to restore land maintain the security of the ! North Atlantic area. Any supplemehtar'y agreemeht or arran'gemerit which might be negotiated under (the treaty would not inc'rease or ■ diminish this commitment.