N.Z.’S POLICY IN ASIA

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27591, 23 February 1955, Page 13

N.Z.’S POLICY IN ASIA

Mr Macdonald In Bangkok

(Rec. 8 p.m.) BANGKOK, Feb. 22. The New Zealand Minister of External Affairs (Mr T. L. Macdonald) arrived in Bangkok today for the S.E.A.T.O. conference.

Mr Macdonald told reporters that New Zealand wished to play a full and active role in the South-east Asian Treaty Organisation. “But we have got to cut our coat according to our cloth,” he said. New Zealand was a comparatively small country and did not wish to make commitments beyond her power to fulfill. New Zealand’s main interest was the defence of the South-west Pacific and her own interests clearly merged with those of S.E.A.T.O.

New Zealand had come to this conference to learn and to let the people back home know what was going on. “We can’t afford heavy expenditures, but whatever is decided here, we will try to do our share,” he said. Siam's Foreign Minister (Prince Wan) hung a garland of sweet-smelling Siamese flowers around Mr Macdonald’s shoulders as he stepped from the airliner.

Mr Macdonald was accompanied by Major-General W. G. Gentry, the New Zealand Chief of Staff, and Mr Foss Shanahan, the acting Secretary of External Affairs.

Tour by Mr Casey The Australian Minister of External Affairs (Mr R. G. Casey) arrived by air after a two-week tour of Malaya and Indo-China to find how far communism has penetrated into South-east Asia.

He said he thought the Bangkok conference was taking place at a very appropriate time. He said that he' had discussed the situation with the leaders of each of the three Indo-Chinese States, but “I can’t pretend the situation is at all easy of solution in any one of the countries I visited.” But Mr Casey added: “I don’t think it is impossible of solution." By hearing what was happening in Indo-China through the mouths of leading people there, he had got a number of points to make to his colleagues at the conference which he thought might help peace in Southeast Asia, Mr Casey said. Asked if there had been trouble in Laos because of the proposed conference, Mr Casey replied: “There is no immediate source of anxiety in Laos, but I think the conference is taking place at a very appropriate time.”