N.Z. Diplomatic Post Needed In Bangkok

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27594, 26 February 1955, Page 7

N.Z. Diplomatic Post Needed In Bangkok

(Special Corresponient N.ZJ’.A.)

BANGKOK, February 24. Now that the decision has been taken by the S.EAT.O. Council to make Bangkok the V beadquarters of the oreallis the New Zealand shortly be required toconsider the question of establishing a diplomatic post in the SX.A.T.O. area. The New Zealand delegation to the S.E.T.O. conference this morning supported the choice of Bangkok, which is now officially the key centre where the fight ag® l ”? 4 the menace of subversive Communist attacks against s ® u ***‘ eaa J Asian countries is to begin in . earnest. This means that all member -nations of S.E.A.T.O. will have to maintain the closest touch with the admimstra.tive headquarters where the lariat, on a limited scale, will shortly begin to function. A big factor at the moment is that New Zealand, although a valuable member of the S.E.A?T.O. agre®to®“ 4 and council, is without direct diplomatic representation in any of the eastern S.E.A.T.O. countries in which she is so vitally concerned. While as yet no definite official consideration has been given to the size of the secretariat, conference sources say that it should be limited to perhaps a maximum of three from each at the SE.A.T.O. partners, according to the individual ability to contribute the required staff. . .. However, on the diplomatic side of representation in South-east Asia, New Zealand, according to British sources in Bangkok, will probably need a post with ambassadorial status. Whether the Government will sanction a post in Bangkok so as to be as

close as possible to the organisation, or will prefer to see a post in Singapore, which will be nearer the forces in Malaya, remains to be announced. But the Dominion will be breaking new diplomatic ground whatever decision is taken, and from inquiries the ; New Zealand Press Association has made in Singapore and Bangkok, a New Zealand post would be welcomed by diplomats already established in these centres.

It should bring no surprise to the Government, therefore, if the Minister of Defence (Mr T. L. Macdonald), when he returns to New Zealand and reports to Cabinet on the accomplishments of the S.E.A.T.O. conference, should exert strong pressure on his colleagues to remove the paradox in the relationship between the Dominion and the S.E.A.T.O. area. In all probability Mr Macdonald, when he meets the Prime Minister (Mr Holland) in Singapore during the week-end, will discuss the question fully with him there. The Minister, since he has been in Singapore and Bangkok, has made it a point to call at the British, 4ustralian and American diplomatic posts. He has thanked officials concerned warmlv on behalf of the Government for their past exchanges of information. „ « Based on these exchanges New Zealand’s touch with many aspects of recent developments in South-east Asia has been kept up to date. The Acting-Prime Minister (Mr K. J. Holyoake) said in Wellington that the question of New Zealand official representation at SJS.A.T.O. headquarters will come up for consideration when the Prime Minister (Mr Holland) and Mr Macdonald return to New Zealand early next month.