AFRICAN-ASIAN CONFERENCE

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27636, 18 April 1955, Page 11

AFRICAN-ASIAN CONFERENCE

Varied Problems For Today’s Talks (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10 p.m.) BANDUNG, April 16. International problems ranging from Indonesia’s claim to West New Guinea to Communist China’s campaign for Formosa were mentioned by national representatives arriving in Bandung today for the Asian-African conference, which will start on Monday.

Siam’s Foreign Minister (Prince Wan) sounded a now familiar note when he said on arrival: “Nothing in the future can be accomplished without Asiatics.”

The Indian Prime Minister (Mr Nehru) said that Communist China must be a member of the United Nations before there would be any hope of gaining a peaceful settlement of the Formosa'problem.

No national representative is yet certain that his country's pet subject will in fact be discussed when the conference opens. The conference will open without an agenda and the first item of real business will be to make an agenda of subjects which are not offensive to any of the 29 participants.

Indonesia has asked that the revision of the United Nations Charter be discussed at the conference, authoritative sources told Reuter today. If the delegates accept this subject, they are likely to hear arguments about the system of admitting members to the United Nations and the veto power held by the Big Five — Britain, France, the United States, Russia and Nationalist China. The 29 countries at the talks pannot accept this subject for discussion unless it is agreed to by all as acceptable. Eleven of the nations at Bandung will not be members of the United Nations. These are Cambodia, Ceylon, Communist China, the Gold Coast, Japan, Jordan, Laos, Nepal, the Sudan, Communist North Vietnam, and South Vietnam. Jordan is the only Arab State without United Nations membership. The Chinese Communist Prime Minister (Mr Chou En-lai) is expected in diplomatic quarters to make a strong plea for his country’s acceptance as the proper occupant of the China seat in the United Nations. Diplomatic observers expect Mr Chou to get strong support for his claim from Mr Nehru, and several other delegates. Even Pakistan, a member of the South-east Asia Treaty Organisation and a strongly anticommunist country, would support Chinese Communist membership of the United Nations, according to diplomatic observers. Observers expect the Philippines and Siam to oppose Chinese Communist membership of the United Nations on the ground that China committed aggression against the United Nations in Korea. It is believed their argument will be that Communist China has not yet purged herself on this count and had not shown peaceful intentions since, thus not qualifying for United Nations membership. The leader of the Iraqi delegation (Dr. Fadhil Jamali) said on his arrival that his country would oppose the admission to the United Nations of “proven aggressors.” Diplomatic observers say that an overwhelming majority at the conference would support Japanese admission to the United Nations.

Mr Mohammed Ali, Prime Minister Of Pakistan, said Pakistan would ask the conference to consider the Israeli question and the admission of new States to the United Nations.

He said Pakistan had asked that the easing of world tension and plans for the peaceful uses of atomic energy be included in the agenda. The Prime Minister said Pakistan would not agree to the formation of a permanent organisation at the conference.

. Dr. Ali Sastroamijojo, the Indonesian Prime Minister, said that the question of Dutch West New Guinea would possibly be raised when the conference discussed colonialism. He, said he thought the most important task of the 29-nation conference was to view the position of Asia and Africa and their people in the world of today. He said the conference would examine what contribution Asians and Africans could make to the promotion of world peace and co-operation.

Dr. one of the conveners of th"' ' "Zerence, emphasised that the we<- ’r ig talks had not been called to create a regional alliance.