DEFENCE PACT FOR PACIFIC

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26353, 22 February 1951, Page 7

DEFENCE PACT FOR PACIFIC

Definite Proposals By U.S.

(N.Z. Pre** Association—Copyright)

(Rec. 1030 p.m.) WASHINGTON, February 20. Definite proposals for a Pacl2? Pact, similar to the North Atlantic Treaty, are expected to be the first result of the tour of the Far East by Mr John Foster Dulles, President Truman’s special envoy, says Reuter’s diplomatic correspondent.

Informed officials say that the United States is considering a triangular defence alliance with Australia and New Zealand as a move towards the proposed Pacific Pact. The officials emphasised that the alliance was Me of several alternative arrangements being considered as a means of knit* ting democratic nations closer together in the Pacific area. It was learned that another would add the Philippines u an original member of the United States-Australia-New Zealand arrangement. All alternatives are being discussed to leave the way open for additional countries to join later.

The Secretary of State (Mr Dean Acheson) was reported to have mentioned the possibility of an initial three-member alliance to the New Zealand Prime Minister (Mr Holland) when he visited Washington earlier this month, and Mr Holland was reported to be enthusiastic about the suggestion.

Officials said Mr Holland bebeved such a United State ;-New ZealandAustralian Pact would, meet New Zealand’s desire for formal assurances of cutside aid in the event of Qommunist aggression. The alternative pacts being talked about were patterned after the North Atlantic Treaty in that each nation would pledge to aid all members in the event of attack. It is said that the precise .mtial line-up that will emerge will depend greatly on the recommendations Mr Dulles’ makes when he returns to the United States. It is believed virtually certain, however, that the United States will f nsist on a much smaller alliance than the 12-nation North Atlantic Pact. American policy-makers are reported to favour a “go-slow’ policy because many of the interested nations have little in the way of common backgrounds, traditions, or resources. Reuter's says that Slate Department officials to-day emphasised that none of the alternative proposals for a Pacific Pact had originated with the United States, but were placed before Mr Dulles by various Pacific countries he had visited. Reliable diplomatic sources reported that the United States appeared to be more warmly disposed to a treaty which would include Japan, if not as an edual partner, at least with the prospect of assuming some obl’gations in the broad Pacific defence picture. In spite of American denials, some quarters still insist that the United States had tentative!* proposed a fivePower alliance between the United States. Australia. New Zealand, the Philippines, and Japan.