DEFENCES UNDER ANZUS PACT

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27065, 13 June 1953, Page 7

DEFENCES UNDER ANZUS PACT

“Chance To Concert Policy Let Slip” SYDNEY, June 12. Expressing disappointment at the results of the London conference of Prime Ministers of Britain, New Zealand, and Australia on Pacific security, the “Sydney Morning Herald,” in a leading article headed “The Moun-j tains and the Mouse,” says:— * “The Prime Ministers of Britain, Australia, and New Zealand, having devoted one morning to the problems of Pacific and South-east Asian security, have decided that one of the United Kingdom Chiefs of Staff should pay a visit to Australia and New Zealand later in the year. “Put another way, an excellent opportunity to conceit a positive defence policy for the Pacific area for discussion at the Big Three conference has been let slip. “The public reaction to this perfunctory meeting and casual communique will be one of resentment and disappointment. Hopes had been encouraged, not the least by Sir Winston Churchill, that the vexed question of British participation in Pacific defence planning would be threshed out thoroughly, and it was reasonable to expect that important decisions would be reached in London.

“Quite evidently, nothing of any consequence has been decided, and the whole matter has been shelved. It is difficult to see how, in the absence of American or French representation, the proposed military discussions could carry matters any further than at present.” Australia and New Zealand had already given proof that they recognised their direct interest in the security of Malaya and there had been no lack of staff consultations, said the newspaper. The® situation in South-east Asia called for a very much broader approach. What was required was the establishment of a planning body, on which Britain, France, and the Anzus partners were all represented. ’ “The defence of South-east Asia is an urgent problem, and its urgency win be increased rather than diminished by the truce in Korea. It must consequently'be hoped that the Bermuda meeting will not brush it aside as cavalierly as the Prime Ministers appear to have done.”