N.Z. RELATIONS WITH SIAM

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27928, 27 March 1956, Page 12

N.Z. RELATIONS WITH SIAM

OFFICE TO BE SET UP IN BANGKOK

MR SHANAHAN’S DUTIES EXTENDED

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, March 26. The Government has decided to establish a New Zealand office in Siam. Announcing this tonight, the Prime Minister (Mr Holland) said that recent developments in SEATO had made necessary the establishment of an office in Bangkok, which was the headquarters of the organisations set up under the Manila Treaty. Mr Holland recalled that when the office of the Commissioner for ITew Zealand in South-east Asia was established at Singapore last July the Commissioner (Mr Foss Shanahan' had at the same time been appointed New Zealand member of the SEATO Council representatives, a body that supervises SEATO activities on behalf of the Council of Foreign Ministers and meets regularly at Bangkok.

At the recent Karachi meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers it had been decided to provide a stronger SEATO organisation in Bangkok, Mr Holland said. The establishment of a New Zealand office there would ensure that New Zealand could play an effective part in these and other SEATO activities.

Mr Shanahan, while retaining his present appointments, had been accredited formally to the Siamese Government. said Mr Holland. Siam had indicated that it hoped to establish a post in Wellington as soon as possible. “The intention of the Siamese Government to establish diplomatic relations on the basis of reciprocal representation is a welcome development.” Mr Holland said.