Territories

Anzac Plan for the South Pacific Territories

THE terms of the Anzac Agreement were announced in Canberra on January 22. They provide a for mula, and machinery, under which Australia and New Zealand will act jointly in relation to all matters arising out of war or post-war conditions which affect their common interests. Such matters include defence, trade, aerial transport, migration, and so on; and especially do they include control over the Pacific Islands lying generally north wards of Australia and New Zealand.

The Anzac Agreement conforms in almost every detail with the forecast of “Plan for Future Pacific Control,” set out in this journal in January.

In general, the system envisaged by the gentlemen who made the plan provides that joint action by the two Govern ments on all matters of common interest shall be arranged by an Australian-New Zealand Secretariat, functioning in Can berra and Wellington under the respec tive Governments; the two Governments will continue to administer their present Pacific Territories, with the addition of any others handed over to their care; and they will co-ordinate their Pacific Islands administration according to the wishes of a South Pacific Regional Council.

The part of the plan relating to common action through a Secretariat can be put into operation immediately.

But much of the plan which relates to Pacific Territories affairs especially anything concerned with the co-ordina tion of administrations through a Regional Council —is still subject to: — (a) Discussion and agreement at a British Imperial Conference, to be held in London some time in 1944; (b) Discussions and agreements at peace conferences or international

conferences yet to be held in Europe and the Pacific; (c) The restoration of the League of Nations, or the creation of some body to take its place; (d) The creation by the League of Nations, or directly by the Gov ernments of Britain, United States, France, Holland, Portugal, Aus tralia and New Zealand, of a South Pacific Regional Council, which will be the controlling and co-ordinating authority for all the Territories of the South Pacific.

But it would be foolish to expect that plan to operate within five years.

The plan is the plan of the Labour Governments of Australia and New Zealand. Basing an estimate on long experience, this journal does not expect either of those two Governments to survive the post-war period. Both Dominions will swing back to non- Labour administration —and the letter may not like the Anzac Agreement in its present form. That may mean changes and delay.

BUT something like that plan almost certainly will come, eventually.

United States power and influence will be the strongest factor in the bourn Pacific for a long time after the war, and American opinion will demana something like the Regional Council or Dr. Evatt’s plan. Australia and New Zealand must accept that—and they should not quarrel with it, because it there had been no United States to come to their aid in the first half of 1942, Australia and New Zealand and their Pacific territories would have oeen almost as sorry a spectacle as is New •Guinea to-day.

Before turning to that part of the

Anzao Agreement covering the Pacific Territories, it should be noted that the Agreement covers many matters not connected with the Territories; and in those respects it will operate quickly. It is the part of the plan which relates to the Territories which will be subject to much delay . . . the part that is set out hereunder, with comment and ex planation. (5) The two Governments agree to act together in matters of common concern in the South-west and South Pacific areas. (13) The two Governments agree that, within the framework of a general system of world security, a regional zone of defence comprising the South-west and South Pacific areas shall be established, and that this zone should be based on Australia and New Zealand stretching through the arc of islands north and north east of Australia to western Samoa and the Cook Islands.

COMMENT: This, of course, is subject to agreement with other nations—espec ially the United States —after Pacific war is over. The system of defence will depend entirely upon the way in which the Pacific war ends.

Part of 15: It is agreed that it would be proper for Australia and New Zealand to assume full responsibility for policing, or sharing in policing, such areas in the South-west and South Pacific as may from time to time be agreed upon. (16) The two Governments accept as a recognised principle of international practice that the construction and use in time of war by any Power of naval, military, or air installations in any territory under the sove reignty or control of another Power does not in itself afford any basis for territorial claims or rights of sovereignty or control after the completion of hostilities .

COMMENT: This is clearly a reply to those mischievous gentlemen of the United States who have been insisting that, after the war is over, the United States should not move out of the several islands which it has occupied and developed as great bases for naval, military and air operations. Actually, there is no cause for worry. The United States is most unlikely to disclose any Imperial desires. In any event, if the continuance of United States occupation of those islands means continued United States protection of Australia and New Zealand. Australia and New Zealand should go around publicly thanking God for it. (24) Following the procedure adopted at the conference just concluded, the two Governments will regularly ex change information and views in regard to all developments in, or affecting the islands of the Pacific.

COMMENT: Hearty applause from the “PIM,” which has been ardently advo cating this very thing for at least ten years. (25) The two Governments take note of the intention of the Australian Government to resume administra tion at the earliest possible moment of those parts of its territories which have not yet been re occupied.

COMMENT: More applause! But may not the directors of the Pacific War (in other words, the High Command) have other views? If one may take 1914-18 as a precedent, it is unlikely that civil administration will be restored until after fighting has ceased, and after the armistice, and after a conference has decided upon the future of the re occupied territories. (26) The two Governments declare that the interim administration and ultimate disposal of enemy terri tories in the Pacific is of vital im portance to Australia and New Zealand, and that any such dis posal should be effected only with their agreement and as part of a general Pacific settlement.

COMMENT: The only enemy territories in the Pacific to be disposed of are the Caroline, Mariana and Marshall Islands.

It is hard to see how their fate can be any more “vital” to Australia and New Zealand than it is to United States (protector of the adjoining Philippines) and Holland (owner of the adjoining Netherlands Indies). (27) The two Governments declare that no change in the sovereignty or system of control of any of the islands of the Pacific should be effected except as a result of an agreement to which they are party, or in the terms of which they have both concurred. (28) The two Governments declare that, in applying the principles of the Atlantic Charter to the Pacific, the doctrine of ee trusteeship” (already applicable in the case of the Man dated Territories of which the two Governments are mandatory Powers) is applicable in broad principle to all colonial territories in the Pacific and elsewhere, and that the main purpose of the trust is the welfare of the native people and their special economic and political development.

COMMENT; Few will quarrel with that sentiment, so long as the two Governments are kept under the whip.

Their record in New Guinea and in Western Samoa respectively (under

trusteeship’), is one of dithering and stagnation. The prayer of all Terri torians is: “God save us from the dead hands of Canberra and Wellington!” (29) The two Governments agree that the future of the various territories of the Pacific and the welfare of their inhabitants cannot be success fully promoted without a greater measure of collaboration between the numerous authorities concerned in their control and that such col laboration is particularly desirable in regard to health, services, and communications, matters of major education, anthropological investi gations, assistance in native pro duction and material development generally.

COMMENT: We can only applaud. It is a principle which the “PIM” has been advocating for many years. (30) The two Governments agree to pro mote the establishment at the earliest possible date of a regional organisation with advisory powers which could be called the South Seas Regional Commission and on which, in addition to representatives of Australia and New Zealand, there might be accredited represen tatives of the Governments of the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the French Com mittee of National Liberation.

COMMENT: As we have already ex plained, this admirable plan may be long in fulfilment. It must go to the British Imperial Conference, and then await the creation of whatever machinery is to re store or replace the League of Nations. (31) The two Governments agree that it shall be the function of such South Seas Regional Commission as may be established to secure a common policy on social, economic, and political development directed to wards the advancement and well being of the native peoples them selves, and that in particular the Commission should (a) recommend arrangements for the participation of natives in adminis tration in increasing measure with a view to promoting the ultimate attainment of self-government in the form most suited to the circum stances of the native peoples con cerned; (b) recommend arrangements for material development, including production, finance, communications, and marketing; (c) recommend arrangements for co ordination of health and medical services and education; (d) recommend arrangements for main tenance and improvement of stan dards of native welfare in regard to labour conditions and participation of natives in administration and social services; (e) recommend arrangements for colla boration in economic, social, medical, and anthropological research; it) make and publish periodical reviews of progress towards the develop m.ent of self-governing institutions in the islands of the Pacific, and in the improvement of standards of living, conditions of work, education, health, and general welfare.

COMMENT: In broad outline, an ex cellent plan. But —see comment on Clause 30. (34) The two Governments agree that as soon as practicable there should be

a frank exchange of views on the problems of security, post-war deve lopment, and native welfare between properly accredited representatives of the Governments with existing territorial interests in the South west Pacific area or in the South Pacific area, or in both — namely, in addition to the two Governments, his Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom, the Government of the United States of America, the Government of the Netherlands, the French Committee of National Liberation, and the Government of Portugal; and his Majesty’s Govern ment in the Commonwealth of Australia should take the necessary steps to call a conference of the Governments concerned.

COMMENT; This, of course, might be done without awaiting developments in Europe. If it were done, and a measure of agreement reached, it would assist greatly in finding agreement and modus operandi at the European Peace Confer ence and other similar discussions; and such a conference might be an effective forerunner of the projected Regional Council.

All male British subjects of European descent between the ages of 18 and 36, and resident in the districts of Suva, Nausori, Lautoka, Ba and Vatukoula, Fiji, were required to register for military service before January 29, 1944,