ASIA AND PACIFIC

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 70, 4 January 1950, Page 4

ASIA AND PACIFIC

FOREIGN POLICY OF AUSTRALIA SYDNEY, January 3. Australia should make her primary foreign relations effort in Asia and the Pacific, said the Federal Minister of External Affairs (Mr P. C. Spender) to-day, in his first statement on the foreign policy of the new Commonwealth Government. “Australia and the United States are the two countries which can,, in cooperation, make the greatest contribution to the stability and democratic development of South-east Asia,” said Mr Spender. “The vast and far-reaching events of the last 10 years have led to a shift of the centre of gravity of world affairs at; least for the time being—from the Atlantic to the Pacific.”

Emphasising that Australia’s destiny was irrevocably conditioned by what took place in Asia, Mr Spender said: “The rising and menacing tide of Communism in the East presents a definite threat tc our national existence, but that threat is also a challenge. “Australia, which with New Zealand. has the greatest direct interest in Asia of all the Western peoples, must develop a dynamic policy towards the neighbouring Asiatic countries. We should give leadership to developments in that area. This, in no way implies a lack of recognition of the extreme importance the Government attaches to our continued intimate association with :lie British Commmonwealth, but on the contrary strengthens it.” ■Mr Spender said that he had had talks with the United States Ambassador in Australia on a proposed treaty with, the United States. Mr Spender made this announcement on the- eve of his departure for the Commonwealth Ministers’ conference in Colombo. He said he hoped to be able to submit proposals for the treaty to the Australian Cabinet after his return from the conference.