N.Z. VIEWPOINT

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 198, 19 May 1944, Page 5

N.Z. VIEWPOINT

Results Of Talks In London SURVEY MADE BY MR. FRASER

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Received May. 18, 7 p.m.) LONDON, May 17.

“The conference has been most valuable from the (point of view of New Zealand and the Commonwealth as a whole,” said Mir. Fraser, when interviewed by the New Zealand Press Assockition, on the result of the Prime Ministers’ conference. “It has, firstly, provided us with a great deal of first-hand information of the highest importance. Secondly, we have been able to have very frank discussions among ourselves as to the policy to be pursued in the European and Japanese wars and in the post-war period. These discussions in some cases were detailed, in others were of a more general nature. I would like to refer to a number of 'these in turn from the point of view of New Zealand.

“In the first place there was the question of the further conduct of the war. We have examined the strategy and plans for* the European, invasion, both here in the Cabinet room, at No. 10 Downing Street, and out at the headquarters of the different commanders. I had a talk with General Eisenhower. With the other Prime Ministers I visited centres where troops and equipment are gathered for the assault. It is going to be a hard battle, but the outcome can be, I feel, on the facts supplied, faced with confidence.

“Naturally the role which the New Zealand Division in Italy will play iu the European struggle has been one topic we discussed. I hope to visit the division myself very shortly and see our roenvand discuss matters with General Frey-, berg. “The war against Japan was also covered. We discussed the question of the contribution to be made by the various parts of the British Commonwealth in the next stages of the Pacific war. Very considerable forces will be available from the United Kingdom at a later stage. The question of where these forces can best be used was also discussed, and how their effort ean be tied in with the effort which we Australians, British and Indians are already making side by side with our American and Chinese allies. League, Shipping, Aviation.

“We then discussed at some length the question of the future world organization to take the place of the League. Such schemes, of course, are necessarily tentative at the present stage, but the kind of organization which is envisaged is one on a world scale. In it the member States of the while standing together for democracy and consulting closely one with another, would rank as sovereign countries each with its own voice, as they are ranking in the League. “From these more general questions we passed to specific points such as shipping, Civil aviation, immigration and post-war employment. We discussed the future of shipping in the Pacific and the problem of ensuring that adequate tonnage becomes available for both the transpacific and coastal traffic of New Zealand and other parts of the Commonwealth. This problem is, of course, very largely still t one of production, for even . tor some time after the war there is likely to be a shipping shortage. The matter, however, was closely examined and steps are being taken to ensure that ships will be available.

“I heed not stress the importance with which we regard the problem of civil aviation. Our Government’s policy already has been clearly laid down in the Australia-New Zealand Agreement. We are in favour of the internationalization of the world air routes. If this is impossible we support the establishment of an international controlling body, and will do all We can to assist in the development of the British services and in the co-ordination of such efforts with those of the Americans. In the meetings in London we pressed as a Government for the fullest possible attention to be paid to the development of air services, in the Pacific. We believe that a great’ deal can be done there, and we are determined as a Government to ensure that it shall be done, because so much depends for the future of New Zealand on adequae air links with the outside world. Immigration Question Open. “On immigration our discussions were equally frank. The New' Zealand Government’s attitude on this is conditioned by two factors: by a determination to see that our servicemen and our own people are adequately housed and restored to full employment, and by a desire to make sure that when any further immigration is undertaken it will be on such a basis that there are suitable jobs available for the immigrants. It is naturally of the greatest importance for New Zealand to have a larger population. But nothing would be gained, by allowing a rush of immigrants into New Zealand in any unco-ordinated or rash fashion during the period of our own post-war demobilization. Nor can we be sure that the type of immigrant, such as the building trades worker, whom we could place in employment right away, will be available. He might be t more urgently required for the gigantic..reconstruction tasks in the United Kingdom. “We therefore have left the question of immigration open for further discussions with the United Kingdom and the other Dominions so as to work out a coordinated policy on the basis that we must ensure that prosperity is increased and not endangered by migration. For, after all, the real answer to the problem of immigration is to make sure that there is prosperity in this world and full employment so that there are jobs for the people wherever they may be anxious to settle* New Zealand Trade. “Post-war economic matters also occupied our attention, and We exchanged our views on such specific topics as the monetary system and trade. I am convinced that while we in New Zealand can do much by ourselves in our quest for higher standards of life, true and lasting prosperity depends very largely on the economic recovery of the world as a ' whole, and therefore I have taken part in the economic talks with particular interest. Before I leave London I intend to have more detailed talks on trade matters with the authorities directly concerned. “These are some of the topics whieti we dismissed at the conference, and the work done will. I am sure, be of the greatest value.” Mr. Fraser intends to discuss the whole future of New Zealand exports and prices with officials of the Ministry of Food now that the conference has ended. AMERICAN ENDORSEMENT (Received May 18, 11.55 p.m.) NEW YORK, May 18. The joint declaration of the Empire Prime Ministers is greeted in Washington Congressional and’ diplomatic circles as a concrete step forward in the realization of the United Nations’ war aim, says the “Herald Tribune.” Senators who conferred with the Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, on plans for world organization found the London declaration in full agreement with United States endeavours. The chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, Mr. Bloom, said that the British declaration could not go further at this time. “But you’ve got to put teeth into some league for security by saying that when any nation enters the league and then breaks from it, every other nation automaticaly breaks relations with that country and isolates it,” he said. "If that had been done with Japan and Germany when they left the League of Nations, they would have thought twice before attempting to do what they did.” The Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Conally, also endorsed the London declaration.