BRITISH ROLE IN ANZUS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27131, 29 August 1953, Page 7

BRITISH ROLE IN ANZUS

Talks Likely In Washington

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) WASHINGTON, August 27.

Britain’s relationship to the Council of the Anzus Pact would probably be discussed by the Foreign Ministers of the three Pacific allies in Washington next month, the State Department spokesman (Mr Lincoln White) said today.

This did not imply any change in the United States attitude towards the participation of any other nation in the pact, he said. Mr White made the statement when announcing that the council would meet in Washington on September 9 and 10. Mr White said the Ministers, Messrs Richard Casey (Australia), T. C. Webb (New Zealand), and John Foster Dulles (United States), would have no fixed agenda before them for the meeting, but it was expected that they would discuss in general terms the communist threat to the three Allies in the Pacific, and would consider reports submitted by the Anzus military representatives.

There would also be consideration of “consultative relationships” with other nations. “Because of Australian and New Zealand membership in the British Commonwealth, Britain has been kept, closely in touch with developments, and the relationship of Britain to the Anzus Council will, in all probability, be discussed,” Mr White said.