COMMITMENTS OF AUSTRALIA

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27402, 15 July 1954, Page 11

COMMITMENTS OF AUSTRALIA

“No Agreement To Go To War” (N.Z. Prw Association—Copyright) (Rec. 1130 p.m.) CANBERRA, July 14. J The Prime Minister (Mr Menzies) said at a press conference today that Australia has not entered into any agreement to go to war. “We aren’t parties to any commitment,” he said. Mr Menzies was replying to a request by the Australian Labour Party’s federal executive for a clear-cut statement on what undertakings Australia had given on South-east Asia. “We have certainly been party to a lot of discussions,” Mr Menzies said. “The External Affairs Minister (Mr R. G. Casey), with whom I have conferred after his return from talks abroad on South-east Asia tended to be optimistic. “In the present confused state of affairs, nobody can have more than a vague hunch. Mr Casey’s own hunch is optimistic.” ,

_ Mr Menzies added: “Mr Casey, in his talks with me, filled in the background to the cables he has been exchanging with the Australian Government constantly while abroad. “We are agreed that in the present state of affairs there is nothing to be gained by publicly discussing what our policy ought to be, particularly having regard to the fact that the French and Vietminh are in conference and that that conference has an important bearing on the outcome of the position. “In view of this, I will make no public statement of policy before the conclusion of the French-Vietminh talks.”

Russian Prince Dies.— Prince Vladimir Galitzine, leader of the White Russian colony in Britain, died in London today aged 70. Prince Galitzine, a member of an old Russian family, settled in London after the 1917 revolution. —London, July 13.