MR NASH AND MR NEHRU

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28514, 18 February 1958, Page 14

MR NASH AND MR NEHRU

Fellow Feeling Admitted

(New Zealand Pres* Association) WELLINGTON, February 17. An affinity with the Prime Minister of India (Mr Nehru) was admitted by the Prime Minister (Mr Nash) this evening when he spoke about his forthcoming tour of the Far East. Mr Nash said he attached great importance to the personal discussions he would have with Mr Nehru in New Delhi. “I think much like him,” said Mr Nash. “He has kept India on the rails, while preserving his point of view. What they call neutralism is not really neutralism. I think he has done as much as any single man to ease off the possibilities of conflict.” Mr Nash said he was also anxious to meet the Prime Ministers of Pakistan and Ceylon. He was particularly looking forward to meeting the Prime Minister of Pakistan. Unlike India, Pakistan was a member of 5.E.A.T.0., as was New Zealand. Mr Nash will leave New Zealand from Christchurch on FeL ruary 27, and will return during the first week in April. While overseas he will lead the New Zealand delegations to a meeting of the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East, and to the annual meeting of the Council of the South-east Asia Treaty Organisation. Four Delegates At the E.C.A.F.E. conference, at Kuala Lumpur, Malaya, early in March, Mr Nash will be accompanied by the Commissioner for New Zealand in South-east Asia (Mr Foss Shanahan), the New Zealand Trade Commissioner in Singapore (Mr R. G. Hampton) and Mr W. A. E. Green, of the Department of External Affairs, Wellington. Mr Shanahan will also accompany Mr Nash as a delegate to the S.E.AT.O. conference at Manila, from March 10 to March 14. The Secretary for External Affairs (Mr A. D. Mclntosh) and an assistant secretary, Mr Charles Craw, who is in charge of the department’s South-east Asia section, will complete the delegation to S.EA.T.O. Mr Nash will first visit Sydney, where he will have talks with the Australian Prime Minister (Mr Menzies). On March 1, he will fly to Singapore, where he will stay until March 5, when the E.CA .F.E. conference opens at Kuala Lumpur. While in Singapore and Malaya, the Prime Minister will visit the New Zealand Army, Navy and Air Force contingents stationed there. On March 9, Mr Nash will fly to Manila for the S.E.A.T.O. Council meeting, where he expects to meet the Foreign Ministers of the other member nations, including Mr Dulles, the American Secretary of State. After the S.EA.T.O. meeting, Mr Nash will pay a short visit to Hong Kong before flying to New Delhi on March 17 to meet the Indian Prime Minister.

Flying from New Delhi, via Bombay, Mr Nash will visit Colombo from March 21 to 23, and have talks with the Prime Minister of Ceylon (Mr Bandaranaike).

Mr Nash will meet the Pakistan Prime Minister (Mr Noon) at Karachi, which he will visit from March 24 to 27.

Before returning to New Zealand, Mr Nash will call at Bangkok, at the invitation of the Thai Government. There he will visit S.E.A.T.O. headquarters, and also inspect the New Zealand Embassy.