TREATIES IN PACIFIC

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26671, 4 March 1952, Page 7

TREATIES IN PACIFIC

Korea Calls For ■ , Inclusion (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, March 3. The President of the Republic of South Korea (Mr Syngman Rhee' called on the United States, Australia ahd New Zealand to-day to extend their mutual security treaty to covet all ahti-CommUniat countries in the Pacific. In an interview published in the “United States News and World Report," an independent weekly news magazine, Mr Rhee said that such a treaty should include provision that all its members must come to the immediate defence of Korea “if she were again the victim of aggression.” He added: “Until such a treaty is signed, it still remains our hope to arrange with the United States some such pact as has been entered into by Japan and the Philippines severally witli the same upholder of world peace.” Mr Rhee expressed opposition to the current armistice negotiations at Panmunjon and to the proposed political conference to be held if an armistice is signed. “No representative from this Government will participate in such negotiations or a political conference for we have seen enough of such conferences with the Soviet. And once an armistice of sorts is accepted, we shall not be able to check Communist infiltration properly for then we shall not be allowed to say or do anything that might offend the Communists. Who will call it provocative. "Moreover, all Koreans believe that foreign nations, once disengaged, will not come immediately to our fescue. Those who are frantically seeking a cease-fire in order to get themselves disentangled are not likely to turn and participate onde more.”