THREE MAJOR PROBLEMS

Chronicle (Levin), 30 December 1949, Page 3

THREE MAJOR PROBLEMS

Press Association)

Mr. Doidge Discusses Ceylon Conference

(Per

WELLINGTON, Dec, 29. Recognition of Communist China, a Japanese peace settlement and a Paeific Pact are three major questions of particular interest to New Zealand whieh are likely . to be " discussed at next month 's conference in Ceylon of Commonwealth Foreign Ministers. Thie was indicated by the Minister of External Affairs, Mr. Doidge, in a statehlent issued tonight. Arguments both for and against the recOgnition of Oommnnist China, were discussed by Mr. Doidge. He said it might be that New Zealand's attitude, both as to the recognition and timing of recognition, would differ from that of some of the other

nations of the British Commonwealth. It was possible to make the ease almost equally strong either for or against. recognition. -» He added that at the conference there would be a full and free exchange of views on international questions but interest would mainly centre on subjects of major importance to the countries in the Pacific and Asiatic areas. The Japanese peace settlement, for instance, had become a matter of lirgency. Two years ago this problem had been discus&ed at the Canberra conference. Then it had been hoped that a peace treaty with Japan could be agreed by all the Allies including Soviet Russia, but since 1947 the whole pattern in the Far East had altered. India, Pakistan and Ceylon had entered the sphere as sovereign States and China had passed under Communist control. Moreover, the Canberra conference had elaimed that the drafting of the treaty should- be the work of all the major belligerents but Soviet Russia had always insisted that it was the sole concern of the four Big Powers (U.S.A., Britain, Russia and China). General MacArthur, as supreme commander of the Allied Powers, had had virtual control in Japan since the war ended bnt the present position could not continue much longer and in practice more and more power and discretion was being allowed the Japanese Government. America and Britain both wanted a settlement. One of the chief obstacles was Russia 's insistence, based on the Yalta Agreement, that the treaty must be drafted by the Four Great Powers and that, of course, involved the veto. In these circumstances the United States not unnaturally seemed to incline to a peace treaty negotiated primarily by herself with the participation of as many other nations as possible. "Before the war ended," said Mr Doidge, "we were warned of the danger of hastily devised peace treaties but in the case of Germany and Japan the longer we wait the more difficult becomes the task. All manner of problems present themselves in the case of Japan. It ie easy to make a case for the strengthening of Japanese eeonomy but with it goes the risk of a resurgence of Japanese militarism. Australia and New Zealand will both be interestin this phase of the discussions at Colombo." What of China? Recognition of Communist China was bound to be discussed, he added. In favour of recognition, it could be argued that China was in for a long period of Communist domination, that British administrators in the East urged the earliest possible de jure aeceptanee, that British eommercial interests worth at least £200,000,000 would be involved in heavy losses if deprived of diplomatic and consular protection, that if recognition were refused it would insulate China from the rest of the world and force her into economic integration with Russia, ' ' that so far as United Nations was eoncerned, it would be better to concede recognition now rather than expose that body to humiliation resulting from an alignment of members behind_ rival groups, Against recognition it could be argued that it would break faith with the Chinese Nationalists and abandon war time ally, Chiang Kai-shek, that the ■Communists had seized power in China, an act the peaee-loving nation? could not condone, that recognition would be a gratuitous act of eneouragement to the forces of disruption throughout Asia, that' it could irritate and antagonise U.S.A. and increase American determination and strengthen Japan at the expense of security of Australia and New Zealand, and finally, that recognition would mean the transfer to the Russian bloc of the seat held by China on the Security Council. Last month the question of the recognition of Communist China was discussed in the House of Commons and it was clear that the British Government was disposed to pursue an affirmative policy, Mr Doidge proceeded. In this course it had the reluctant support of Mr Churchill. Mr Doidge said it Bhould be noted that Mr Churchill emphasised that no step should - be taken by Britain except in consultation with the whole of the Commonwealth and also with the United States. America 's attitude was possibly correctly summed up by the "Eeonomist" when it said: "A large section of American opinion will regard recognition as a selfish British effort to steal a march on America in Chinese favour. If later on there is a Far Eastern crisis and Britain asks American support, there will be a strong inclination in America to

say that Britain, having taken its own way, must bear any unpleasant consequences. ' ' "These are but a few of the reasolls' which may be advanced for and against recognition of Communist China," said Mr Doidge. "On the evidence it may seem that recognition is practieal and in the end the inescapable coursv. but the question still remains, is it the moral course? Either way it may well mean the end of Western influenee over Asiatic peoples that would leave India alone to challenge China for leadership in Asia. In the light of that possibility, iPandit Nehru looms as oue of the sig-

nificant figures of the coming conference. ' ' Pacific Pact Mr Doidge said the need for the Pacific Pact was another question for consideration. "The nienace' to peace in thev West has lessened since the creation of the Atlantic Pact.- We would feel safer if there were a similar system of eollective security in the East. There are serious obstacles in the way of the Pacific Pact yet it must be obvious that unless the march of Communism is halted in South East Asia, its setbaek in Europe will be but a temporary one. The outcome of the Colombo conference, 1 hope, will be that we shall learn anew that not one component of the Commonwealth can be sufficient unto itself. Not even the Motherland. the cradle of the British raee, can stand alone. It is our association that makes us great." Mr Doidge, who will represent New Zealand at the conference which is to begin in Colombo on January 9, will leave Auckland by air for Ceylon on Jannary 5. He will be accorApanied b? two advisers, the secretary of External Affairs, Mr A. D. Mclntosh, and assist-ant-secretary to the Treasury, Mr E. L. Greensmith.