POST RESIGNED

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 17, 15 October 1942, Page 4

POST RESIGNED

Mr. Langstone To

Return To N.Z. DIFFERENCES WITH MR. FRASER

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received October 14, 9.30 p.m.)

OTTAWA, October 13,

Mr. Langstone has resigned his position as High Commissioner for New Zealand. He said he had done so because of differences with Mi* Fraser.

Mr. Langstone, who expects to return to New Zealand this month, complained that though definite arrangements were made for his appointment as Minister to the United States Mr. Fraser, without explanation, appointed Mr. Nash instead.

Mr. Langstone said that when he asked Mr. Fraser for an explanation at Ottawa on September 5, Mr. Fraser incorrectly contended, that the Washington offer was conditional on whether Mr. Nash was able to go to Washington or not. Mr. Langstone added: "I refreshed Mr. Fraser’s memory that this was not so, and in view of what took place I have resigned the High Commissionership and, when I return to New Zealand, will resign as a Minister in the Fraser Government." He said he strongly resented any form of false pretence and doublecrossing, or untrue statements, or being treated like a schoolboy even by the Prime Minister, particularly while he was a member of Parliament and a Minister of the Crown. EXPLANATION BY MR. FRASER Mr. Langstone’s Complaint

When asked ■to comment on Mr. Langstone’s statement the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, said last night that Mr. Langstone’s resignation had been under consideration by the Government and accepted and in conformity with Mr. Langstone’s own wishes the Government had agreed to his immediate return ito New’ Zealand. “Mr. Langstojie’s complaint that, without explanation, I had appointed Mr. Nash as Minister to the United States although definite arrangements had been made for his own appointment, is certainly not correct,” said the Prime Minister.

“The facts, briefly, are these: Mr. Langstone was asked by me before I left for the Middle East in 1941 to. go to Washington on a trade mission as the head of which he remained in the United States for the latter part of 1941, and, on my Invitation, carried out a number of other duties, including attendance at the International Labour Conference in New York. “It is perfectly true that I proposed, subject to Cabinet approval, to offer him, after the conclusion of his trade mission, the post of Minister in Washington, and that intention was frankly discussed with Mr. Langstone. But with the rapid deterioration of the situation in the Pacific, it was decided by the Government that New Zealand s vital interests* in the Pacific demanded representation in Washington by a member of the War Cabinet who was thoroughly conversant with developments in the Pacific and was fully informed of the Government’s outlook and defence policy. It was decided, therefore, that Mr. Nash should be the member of War Cabiuet to undertake this duty, though earlier in the year, when the situation was not so grave, I have not considered such an arrangement would be possible. Accordingly, early in December, I sent a telegram to Mr. Langstone explaining that on account, of the growing crisis in the Pacific and the. necessity ot having a Minister in the United States who had .been in closest touch with British and Dominion policy, strategy, decisions and activities, the Government had decided to ask Mr. Nash to accept a temporary appointment in Washington. Mr. Langstone gave no indication at that, time that he objected to this decision which, in any case was justified by the turn of events. He was, moreover, asked to remain in Washington to sign the United Nations Declaration on behalf of New Zealand and to await the arrival of Mr. Nash. Mr. Langstonc's Kescntmcnt. “Shortly after Mr. Nash reached Washington, I learned that Mr. Langstone resented the fact that he had not been appointed Minister and be felt that he had been unfairly treated. I immediately informed Mr. Langstone that I regretted Hint, lie should have misconstrued tbe circumstances of Mr. Nash’s appointment as New Zealand Minister to the U.S.A., and I stated that so far as my own attitude toward himself was concerned. it: waa my intention to place before Cabinet a suggestion that he should be asked to accept a High Commissionership. , “There was then a further unexpected development which I feel I should also make known —shortly after Mr. Nash's arrival in Washington we were informed of the proposal to establish a Far Eastern Council in London contrary to our anticipations, when Mr. Nash left, that thi’ body would be centred in Washington. The Government decided that in such an event; Mr. Nash should proceed to London to act ns our representative on that body and also on the Britisli War Cabinet,' and under those circumstances Mr. Langstone was asked if lie would accept appointment as .Minister in Washington till such time as it was necessary for Mr. Nash to return there, and he agreed to accept. the post: on these conditions. The appointment would have been made had there not been a sudden reversal of decision ns Io tlie setting up of the Pacific War Council in Washington as an alternative to the London proposal. Mr. Nash was instructed under these circumstances to remain in Washington, and Mr. Langstone was offered the High Commissionership in Canada, which he accepted for a term of three years. “Mr. Langstonc’s action in ventilating overseas a personal matter such as this can only be ascribed to his feelings of disappointment. I can only say now, as I have already said to him, that, ii the hour of national danger personal interests anil feelings arc relatively unimportant and that at such a time it. is tlie clear duty of everyone to co-operate with the Government and assume any duty to which he may be assigned.”