ANZUS TALKS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27148, 18 September 1953, Page 10

ANZUS TALKS

MR MACFARLANE’S CRITICISM « VERY SERIOUS POSITION COULD ARISE” (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, September 17, 'A very serious position could arise within the Commonwealth if hard and fast decisions were reached such as those at the recent Anzus talks, said Mr R. M. Macfarlane (Opposition, Christchurch Central), when he spoke in the Budget debate in the House of Representatives this evening. “If we can draw China away from the Cominform, it is better we try to do so rather than adopt a foreign policy at the wish of the United States and thus antagonise China,” he said. Mr J. Mathison (Opposition, Avon): Complete disloyalty to Great Britain. Mr Macfarlane: New Zealand and Australia will get themselves into an impossible position sooner or later by by-passing Great Britain. The Prime Minister (Mr Holland): Before Anzus was signed the agreement was approved by the Labour Government of Great Britain. Mr Mathison: They had no option. Mr C. \L. Carr (Opposition. Timaru): Sir Winston Churchill doesn’t approve it. Mr Macfarlane went on to say that the agreement afforded Britain- no opportunity for consultations. The Prime Minister: She is given every bit of information. Mr Macfarlane: I can see an impossible position arising in the British Commonwealth if we are going to have decisions made in consultation only with the United States. He added that if Communist counequid be weaned away from the Cominform every attempt should be made to do so. A hard and fast attitude would do the British Commonwealth no good.