NEW ZEALAND’S VIEWS

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27444, 2 September 1954, Page 11

NEW ZEALAND’S VIEWS

MR WEBB LEAVES (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON. September 1. • The New Zealand Government hoped that the Manila conference would produce a clear expression of a united will to resist further Communist aggression in South-east Asia, said the Minister of External Affairs (Mr T. C. Webb) today. New, Zealand would not be flnallyi committed to any defence treaty till the Government and Parliament had had an opportunity to consider ttg, terms and the obligations which it would involve for this country, the, Minister added. Mr Webb left Wellington today on the first stage of his trip to Manila to lead the New Zealand delegation. Mr Webb said he thought the conference would probably discuss the problems of collective defence in South-east Asia and the South-west Pacific in general terms only. At this stage it was. unlikely that any elaborate organisation would be established, and the countries concerned would probably wish to leave such questions as military planning and liaison machinery to be worked out later.

“Whatever comes out of the conference, however,” said Mr Webb, “the New Zealand Government will continue to attach great importance to the Colombo Plan and similar schemes for economic and technical assistance to the Asian countries. Through this kind of help the Western countries can make it clear to the countries of the area that they have nothing to fear and much to gain from us, and that we genuinely seek their friendship and support in return for our own.” Preliminary discussions between the countries participating in the conference opened today in Manila, and by the time the meeting of the Ministers began on Monday the major issues before the conference should be fairly clear, he said.

The participating countries are New Zealand, Australia, Britain, Pakistan, the United States, France, the Philippines, and Thailand. .