“REPORTS MORE HOPEFUL”

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27169, 13 October 1953, Page 9

“REPORTS MORE HOPEFUL”

MR T. C. WEBB’S VIEW (New Zealand Press Association) AIAZKLAND, October 12. Cabled reports today of a Communist proposal for preliminary talks on the Korean political conference sounded more hopeful, but there still seemed little prospect of the conference being held by October 28—the deadline—said the Minister of External Affairs (Mr T. C. Webb) this morning. The Minister returned last night from a meeting of the Anzus Council in Washington and the United Nations General Assembly in New York. “I am concerned over the Korean stalemate,” he said. “It is most disappointing, but I still feel that if only a conference of some sort could get going the difference about the shape of the table and membership could be ironed out,” he said. Unfortunately, said Mr Webb, neither the Chinese Communists nor the North Koreans had so far replied officially to the United Nations invitation. The central problem of diplomacy as he saw it was that of dealing with the Soviet Union. “Deadlocks with the Russians always seem to have the unfortunate result of showing up minor differences among the free nations themselves and unforexaggerating them,” said “We have to convince the Soviet that their fears of us are quite unfounded. Until this is accepted the cause of peace is likely to remain in jeopardy.” Mr Webb said that he was nevertheless. more hopeful of the international outlook. The most important factor in improving the position of the Western Powers was the economic and military strength they had gained, he said. In several important countries more stable governments had been formed.

“There has also been a more conciliatory attitude toward the U.S.S.R. and the U.S.S.R. for its part has displayed a most welcome change of attitude,” he said. “While this change may well be one of tactics instead of heart, it h£S lowered the tension.”