CONCILIATION PACT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 September 1940, Page 2

CONCILIATION PACT

UNITED STATES & NEW ZEALAND EXTENSION OF TREATY WITH BRITAIN. I STATEMENT BY PREMIER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day. "The conciliation pact between the United States of America and New Zealand referred to in the Press cables is in effect an extension of the existing Anglo-United States Peace Commission Treaty of 1914,” said the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, in an interview last night. This treaty, he added, provided for the setting-up of a permanent commission of inquiry to investi- ; gate and report on any disputes be- | tween the two countries which ordinI ary diplomatic means might fail to I bring to an amicable solution. "Though 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 the treaty’s extension to the several Dominions of the British Commonwealth by means of the supplementary treaties now signed,” said the Prime Minister. “The treaty will continue in force for five years and will remain in force thereafter till one of the parties should give notice of termination. “I should like to 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 representatives of the British Commonwealth Governments in Washington has, no doubt, been due to more pressing matters.”

The following cable message from Washington was published on Saturday;—“The British Ambassador, Lord Lothian, Mr Christie for Canada, and Mr Casey for Australia, are ’to sign conciliation treaties with the Secretary of State, Mr Hull, on behalf of New Zealand, Canada and Australia. A British agreement which has been effective since 1914 will continue in force. A similar agreement was previously signed with South Africa.”