770 THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE [No. 36

The hope of my Government which I expressed when I last
addressed you, that the structure of peace might be consolidated by
agreement upon the settlements with Germany and Japan, has not
been achieved. Hopes for peace, and, indeed, the very Charter
for maintaining the hard-won peace, were based on a belief in the
continuance of that unity of the Great Powers which gave such
strength to the Allied brotherhood in arms. Differing basically in
their interpretation of peace aims, however, the Great Powers have
failed to establish the feeling of confidence which is essential if peace
settlements are to be made and guaranteed and if collective security
is to be a reality. In their plans for the security of this country
my Government must take heed of this situation, over which they
have little control.

In spite of these deep-seated dissensions which have delayed
the achievement of its primary aims, my Government consider that
the United Nations Organization must be maintained in its full
membership in the hope that it may yet be, in the words of the
Charter, “a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.” My
Ministers will continue to do what lies in their power to strengthen
the United Nations and to ensure that its purposes and principles
are observed.

Within the past year the United Kingdom and a nucleus of the
countries of Western Europe, conscious of the traditions, culture,
and interests they hold in common, have affirmed their determination
to move towards a closer association. My Government welcome these
steps towards the unification of the moral and material forces of this
vital area, and note with satisfaction the contribution of the United
States of America towards its success. Any question of merging
the strength and resources of the British Commonwealth of Nations
with those of the States of Europe presents problems which call for
decisions of fundamental importance in the life and economy of this
country. My Government are confident that a closer economic,
defensive, and spiritual union of the United Kingdom and Europe,
which they regard as necessary and desirable, can be achieved without
prejudicing the historic unity of the Nations of the British
Commonwealth. They believe, further, that the other European
States concerned will share this view. These matters are under
consideration by my Ministers. It is hoped, moreover, that the
Prime Ministers of the British Commonwealth may be enabled at
an early date to discuss these and other major questions of common
and urgent concern.

During the course of the year my Government have warmly
welcomed India, Pakistan, and Ceylon to full membership of the
British Commonwealth. They will, for their part, offer their friendliest co-operation to these countries who share with us the benefits
of this association of free peoples.

Parliament will be given an early opportunity to consider
ratification of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade which
was reached at Geneva, and which provides for the mutual grant
of substantial tariff concessions among the signatories. The
Charter for an International Trade Organization, drawn up at the
United Nations Conference on Trade and Employment at Havana,
will also be placed before Parliament for consideration.

During the past year my Government have participated in
several conferences dealing with the welfare of the people of the
South Pacific, South-east Asia, and the Far East. It is their policy
that New Zealand should continue to contribute, within the limits
set by her size and population, to the progress of her neighbours.

A Mission of the Trusteeship Council of the United Nations
visited Western Samoa last year at the request of my Government
to investigate a petition from the leaders of the Samoan people.
The conclusions reached by the Mission endorse in large measure
my Ministers’ proposals for the advancement of Western Samoa
and its progress towards self-government. Three weeks ago the
new Legislative Assembly of Western Samoa, established in accordance with the Samoa Amendment Act, 1947, was formally opened.