EXCHANGE OF NOTES BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENTS OF NEW ZEALAND AND THE FRENCH REPUBLIC CONCERNING THE MUTUAL ABOLITION OF VISAS Wellington, 22 November 1947

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1948 Session I, A-11

A—ll

1948 NEW ZEALAND

EXCHANGE OF NOTES BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENTS OF NEW ZEALAND AND THE FRENCH REPUBLIC CONCERNING THE MUTUAL ABOLITION OF VISAS Wellington, 22 November 1947

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly bj Leave

By Authority: E. V. Paul, Government Printer, Wellington.—l94B

2

EXCHANGE OF NOTES BETWEEN THE NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC CONCERNING THE MUTUAL ABOLITION OF VISAS Wellington, 22 November 1947 No. 1 Mr. Peter Fraser to Monsieur Henry Rollet Ministry of External Affairs, Wellington, 22 November 1947. Sir, I have the honour to refer to our various discussions concerning arrangements to permit of freedom of travel between our two countries and to suggest that an agreement in the following terms be concluded for the mutual abolition of visas for travel between New Zealand and France:— " (1) French citizens normally resident in metropolitan France shall be free to travel to New Zealand by any route without the necessity of obtaining a visa in advance provided they are furnished with valid French passports. " (2) Holders of valid passports bearing on the cover the inscription 4 British passport: Dominion of New Zealand' and, inside, a description of the holder's national status as ' British subject' shall be free to travel to metropolitan France and Algeria by any route without the necessity of obtaining a visa in advance.

3

" (3) It is understood that the waiver of the visa requirement does not exempt French citizens and British subjects travelling respectively to New Zealand and to metropolitan France or Algeria from the necessity of complying with the New Zealand and French laws and regulations concerning the entry, residence (temporary or permanent) and employment or occupation of foreigners, and that travellers who are unable to satisfy the Immigration authorities that they comply with these laws and regulations are liable to be refused leave to enter or land. " (4) As regards travel to New Zealand Island territories and the Trust Territory of Western Samoa, and to French colonies and overseas territories, protectorates or territories under trusteeship, it is understood that visas will continue to be required." 2. If the French Government are prepared to accept the foregoing provisions, I have the honour to suggest that the present note, and Your Excellency's reply in similar terms, should be regarded as placing on record the agreement between the two Governments which will take effect on 1 December 1947. I have, &c., P. FRASER.

No. 2 Monsieur Henry Rollet to Mr. Peter Fraser Legation de France en Nouvelle Zelande Wellington le 22/11/47. Monsieur le Premier Ministre, J'ai l'honneur d'accuser reception de la lettre en date du 22 Novembre 1947 par laquelle vous avez bien voulu me faire savoir que le Gouvernement de la Nouvelle-Zelande, ■desireux de faciliter la circulation des personnes entre nos

deux pays, etait dispose a se mettre d'accord avec le Gouvernement de la Republique sur les dispositions suivantes : " (1) Les citoyens francais ayant leur residence habituelle en France metropolitaine auront la liberte de se rendre par iine voie quelconque en NouvelleZelande sans etre astreints a l'obtention prealable d'un visa, pourvu qu'ils soient munis de passeports francais en cours de validite. " (2) Les titulaires de passeports en cours de validite et :>ortant sur la couverture l'inscription ' British passport, Dominion de Nouvelle-Zelande' et a 'interieiir ia meiition 4 British subject', atiront la liberte de se reridre en France metropolitaine et en Algerie pat tOUtes les frontieres sans etre astreints a l'obtention prealable d'un visa. " (3) II est entendu que l'exemption du visa ne dispense pas les citoyeiis frangais et les sujets britanniques se rendarit respectivement en Nouvelle-Zelande et en France tiietropolitaine ou en Algerie, de l'obligation de se conformer aux lois et reglements neo-zelandais et francais concernant 1' entree, le court sejour ou l'etablissement ainsi que I'emploi des etrangers, et que les interesses qui ne pourraient etablir devant les autorites competentes qu'ils satisfont a ces lois et reglements pourront se voir refuser l'autorisation d'entrer ou de debarquer. " (4) En ce qui concerne Faeces aux dependances insulaires de la Nouvelle-Zelande et au territoire sous tutelle des Samoas Occidentales, d'une part, et aux colonies protectorats, territoires sous trusteeship, d'autre part, l'obtention prealable d'un visa demeure necessaire." J'ai Fhonneur de porter a votre connaissance que le Gouvernement de la Republique Francaise est pret a appliquer les dispositions ci-dessus, et qu'il considere votre lettre et la presente reponse comme constituant entre les deux gouvernements un accord qui entrera en vigueur le ler decembre 1947. Je siaisis, See., HENRY ROLLET. 'Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given; printing (598 copies), £7 10s. By Authority: E. V. Paul, Government Printer, Wellington.—l94B Price 3d.]