U.N. MIDDLE EAST FORCE

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28133, 23 November 1956, Page 12

U.N. MIDDLE EAST FORCE

N.Z. STILL AWAITS information

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, November 22.

Still no information has been received by the Government from the Minister of External Affairs (Mr T. L. Macdonald), who is in New York, about the future of New Zealand s offer of a contribution to the international force to restore peace in the Middle East. Egypt is reported to be opposed to the use of New Zealand troops, but no definite information is yet available on this. Mr Macdonald has been trying to see the Secretary-General of the United Nations (Mr Dag Hammarskjold), but it is suggested that, with critical events occurring in many parts of the world, such a meeting has been difficult to arrange. Reports that New Zealand troops will not be needed cannot be confirmed, although they may not be needed in the first groups of United Nations forces to enter the Middle East. On the other hand, it is likely that New Zealand’s offer of troops will be taken up later if the United Nations force is required to remain long in the Middle East. It is also possible that the present volunteers will have the opportunity of serving overseas if a permanent United Nations “police” force is established. In the meantime the Army authorities are not making any move to call up the volunteers who have handed in their names and in many cases undergone medical tests throughout the country.