COMMENT BY MR QUIRINO

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26126, 31 May 1950, Page 7

COMMENT BY MR QUIRINO

The conference had “reached agreement on many things,” the President of the Philippines (Mr Elpidio Quirino) said to-day. Mr Quirino, who had just received a personal report on the conference from his Foreign Secretary (General Romulo), added that the results were “better than was expected.” The delegations to the conference completed their last closed door meeting as the Committee of the Whole this afternoon, but the results are being kept secret until the various delegations have had time to report to their respective Governments. The conference will end to-morrow, following the final open session.

The correspondent of the United Press states that the seven nations attending the conference asked, in a

resolution passed to-day, for a closer working relationship with the West. They asked that the Western Powers consult them before deciding on matters dealing with South-east Asia. Delegates said that the resolution was designed to show that the seven nations were united in their desire to solve common problems, and that they alone should decide matters affecting their interests.

The Philippines’ delegation has been advocating the establishment of a permanent organisation from the conference, but the fate of their proposals has not yet been revealed.

However. Mr Quirino to-day made it clear that he means to pursue the Baguio Conference idea. He said: “A good beginning has been made, and we should continue our efforts.”