CONCILIATION PACT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24399, 10 September 1940, Page 6

CONCILIATION PACT

•TREATY WITH AMERICA FORMALITIES OF EXTENSION . (Per United Press Association)' " ; ;- ' WELLINGTON, Sept.' 9.':' The conciliation pact' between' the United States- and New Zealand, to which reference was made in the cable news this morning, was, in effect, an extension of the existing Anglo-United States Peace Commission Treaty ot 1914, said the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser. in an interview to-night. This treaty provided for the setting up of a permanent commission of inquiry to investigate and report upon any disputes between the -two-countries which ordinary : diplomatic; means might fail to bring to an amicable solution. Although New Zealand was bound by the provisions' of the,. original treaty the new international and constitutional status which the dominions now occupy rendered it necessary to ■.;. provide for an extension of the treaty to the dominions of the British Commonwealth by means of supplementary treaties now signed. .: "The treaty will continue in force for five years." Mr Fraser said. " and will remain in force thereafter until one of the parties should give notice oftermination. I should like add that New Zealand's accession and signature were authorised by Mr Savage in July of last year. The subsequent delay in arranging for simultaneous signatures by the -representatives, of the British Commonwealth Governments -in Washington has no' doubt been due to more pressing matters." It was reported in a cable message from Washington yesterday that the Australian Minister (Mr R. G. Casey) and the British Ambassador (the Marquis of Lothian), the latter acting on behalf of New Zealand, had signed conciliation treaties with the Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull) at a simple ceremony in Mr Hull's office. The. State Department indicated that the signing. of these treaties was of no special significance, and the United States would gladly enter into similar agreements with any nations so desiring.