N.Z. AND PACIFIC DEFENCE

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26848, 29 September 1952, Page 7

N.Z. AND PACIFIC DEFENCE

Tasks Under Anzus Treaty

(Rec. 11 pjn.) WASHINGTON, September 118. For the moment the peace of the Pacific area could be maintained adequately by the security treaties which the United States signed last year with Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, and Japan, New Zealand’s Ambassador to the United States (Mr L. K. Munro) said in a broadcast today. “Let us make these three treaties effective before we talk of a Pacific Pact,” he said. New Zealand had allied herself with Australia and the United States through the Anzus treaty to secure herself against possible Japanese militarism or Communist disturbance. “We feel.” Mr Munro said, “that it fog One of the happiest events of our Mr Munro asked the Western World to have “patience, endurance, and tpirit” in its relations with the Soviet Union. “The Kremlin will pay more heed to • demonstration of the democracies’ ability and readiness to hurl back eg* fteasion than it will merely to pious resolutions, i think that for a very long time to come, probably for the foreseeable future, the free world has to strengthen its armaments and maintain them in very much the same way M some ancient empires had over a long period of years to protect their frontiers against the incursions of their enemies.”

Summing up New Zealand’s position, Mr Munro said: “First, we mdBt strengthen our defences in conjunction with other peace-loving countries, Second, we must be prepared td fight Communist aggression. Third, we must assist in the economic development of the countries of South •nd South-east Asia. “These are long-term planfi. Above •11. we must, in conjunction With our •Hies, develop our armed forces and °ur armaments.”