SECURITY CHARTER

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 22, 26 July 1945, Page 4

SECURITY CHARTER

THE VETO POWER

DEBATE CONTINUED

The appointment of a committee representative of the whole House to make a special study of international affairs was suggested by Mr. T. C. Webb (National, Kainara) in the House of Representatives last night, when tlie debate on the United Nations World Security Conference at San Francisco was continued. He said he would like to see a greater interest taken in international affairs. The debate was not completed when the adjournment was taken* "New Zealand is a small place— it. is isolated," said Mr. Webb, "and perhaps to some extent we aye isolated »i thought. We are now a responsible nation and we have to think internationally. I woUld like to throw out the suggestion that a committee representative of the whole House be set up to study especially international affairs, a committee that would necessarily comprise the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition and some other members from each side of the House, because concerning external matters I think we speak with one voice."

Mr. Webb, discussing the power of veto, said he though that every time the Assembly was scheduled to meet tension in world affairs would rise and meetings would tend to take place in an atmosphere of climax. He thought they should x-ealise that there was no chance of ensuring the success of the Charter unless there was unity of the great Powers. They, should persevere and be undaunted by disappointments and setbacks which were bound to occur in plenty. With fervent hopes but not great expectations ho gave his support to the resolution moved by the Prime Minister for the ratification of the Charter.

Mr. F. Hackett (Government, Grey Lynn) said he thought the delegation led by the Prime Minister came within the category of pioneer alpinists. It had set out to achieve what had appeared to be the unachievable and had gone a long way towards reaching' its goal. Mr. E. P. Aderman (National, New Plymouth) said that while he could appreciate the appeals made on behalf of the smaller nations, the Government to be consistent in safeguarding their x-ights and privileges should also apply that principle to the OpEosition m Parliament. One of the nest gestures to secure national support for the Charter would be to take that party into consideration. He hoped that any action the Dominion might take would always strengthen the hand and status of Great Britain, for by strengthening Britain it would be strengthening itself. New Zealand's policy should be in two directions, to build strength for the British Empire and to build strength for the world organisation.

IDEALS OF PEACE.

Mr. R. McKeen (Government, Wellington South) said the member for Tauranga (Mr. Dpidge) seemed to take a. very pessimistic view of the transaction of the conference and of the Charter. He (Mr. McKeen) considered that every public man and woman in the Dominion had a duty to inculcate into the minds of the people the ideals of peace. *A machine had to be built that would avoid the mistakes that occurred in the League. Unless the United Nations profiled by the experience of the League they might fall into the same disastrous mistakes. One of the organisations under the League of Nations which justified its existence was the Court of International Justice, the guidance of which was sought by even States outside the League. The International Labour Office had accomplished more in 20 yeai's than had been accomplished in the previous century, and he was very pleased to see that it had been taken under the wing of the Economic and Social Council.

Mr. M. H. Oram (National, Manawatu) said it was no use being completely idealistic. Something had to be evolved that would really work. It was significant when the Charter was analysed how little it differed from the proposals hammered out at Dumbarton Oaks. It would be ungenerous if hedid not pay a tribute to the work performed by the Prime Minister as chairman of the committee which considered trusteeship. Mr. Fraser had to build from the foundations upwards. He believed it was the Prime Minister's ability to put his finger right on the hard core of any problem that enabled him to steer that committee, which met with unquestioned success.

N.Z. ATTITUDE ON VETO

Mr. Oram said the Prime Minister should have given the position more dispassionately and placed before the House the reasons why the Great Powers had insisted on the veto remaining as settled at Yalta. Surely the Great Powers would not ask, or .demand or insist, that the vote should be that way unless there were some sound reason for it. Although there was a veto by the big Powers, there was also one by the smaller Powers. Any five small Powers could veto any matter they liked in the Security Council if they stuck together. He believed that the New Zealand and Australian delegates almost went a little too far and placed Great Britain in a position of embarrassment. They were looked upon as the leaders or spokesmen of the small nations. That was to be understood. The small nations of Europe were dominated by Russia, while the small nations of America were dominated by the United States. It was only the small nations of the British Empire who had 'a right to speak their minds, and because they had that right they were looked up to as leaders of the small nations, and he thought it had gone a little to their heads. \