U.N. ACTION URGED

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28414, 22 October 1957, Page 13

U.N. ACTION URGED

“Vicious Circle To Be Broken” (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) <Rec. 10 p.m.) CANBERRA. October 21. The Australian Prime Minister 'Mr Menzies) proposed today that a new high level bid should be made by the United Nations for a lasting settlement in the Middle East. Mr Menzies told the annual council meeting of the Federal Liberal Party that a vicious circle of frictions and reactions had developed which wou’ ’ have to be broken. Listing six issues he thought should be settled, the Prime Minister also recommended the formation of an international advisory council body to advise Middle East nations on economic problems. Middle East problems, he said, should be re-examined with the following aims:— A final and guaranteed settlement of the Arab-Israeli border issue. A settlement of the refugee problem. Middle Eastern nations who needed it should get economic aid, without military strings, by genuine international cooperation. Peaceful trade should be promoted. The civil and economic aspects of the Bagdad Pact should be recognised and extended. Co-operation and international guarantees and not merely international competition should govern the development of the area’s oil resources. Russia’s success in launching the first earth satellite had reinforced the need for an international agreement on disarmament, I\lr Menzies said. It had made it more than ever necessary for the world to adopt the Western proposal that disarmament should be complete, and should include forces and weapons of all types. Mr Menzies said it still remained the paradox of the development of atomic weapons that to get rid of these alone would increase rather than reduce the danger of war.