PRESS COMMENT ON TALKS

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26119, 23 May 1950, Page 5

PRESS COMMENT ON TALKS

“AUSTRALIA SITTING ON POWDER KEG” DOMINIONS’ VIEWS OF ASIAN NEEDS (Rec. 11 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 22. “In South-East Asia. Australia is sitting on a powder keg, and unless we can play an active role in reconciling even the British family in this vast area, the future may be more difficult than most of us imagine," says the Sydney “Sun.” in a review of the results cf the British Commonwealth conference in Sydney. “Australia is fully seized with the menace of Communist infiltration. Britain is preoccupied with, her colossal European commitment, which colour her policy and outlook. New Zealand's sympathies lie with Br thin and Australia, but she fee’s remote from ’the powder keg. Canada is prepar d to lend a hand, though she is more concerned with things nearer home.

“India is still feeling her way as an independent nation, and is pursuing an independent line within the British Commonwealth framework. Pakistan, concerned at the possibility of a conflict with India over the Kashmir dispute, is casting around for support. Ceylon, in a centra) role, is seen as a peace-maker.” According to Reuter’s Colombo correspondent. the "Ceylon Daib’ News" said to-day that the sum of £8.000.000 proposed bv the Sydney conference for aid to South-East Asia was inadequate. “The sum can scarcely be described as adequate, considering the vast field to be covered ,and the wide scone of the assistance needed to build up the economies of the under-developed countries.” said the newsnanar. “One resu 7 t of the Commonwealth conference’s recommendations should be to convince American opinion that t°chI nical and financial assistance and a ■ supply of can j tai roods to the thr*at- | ened and under-develoned countries would ba the surest guarantee of peace and stability in the area.”