MR NASH IN SINGAPORE

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28528, 6 March 1958, Page 7

MR NASH IN SINGAPORE

Malayan Views On S.E.A.T.O.

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 7 p.m.) KUALA LUMPUR, March 5.

The New Zealand Prime Minister, Mr Walter Nash, arrived today by air from Singapore. Mr Nash will attend the opening of the annual meeting of the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East which begins today. On March 8 he will fly to Manila for the meeting of the S.E.A.T.O. powers.

Mr Nash was met at the airport by Tunku Abdul Rahman, the Prime Minister of Malaya, and representatives of the diplomatic corps. After inspecting a guard of honour of the Sixth Battalion, Malay Regiment, he left for the opening of E.C.A.F.E. without speaking to reporters. The Malayan Government in a statement issued today indicated that Malaya still did not feel that it was necessary to join the Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation. This had been stated previously by Tunku Abdul Rahman. Newspaper Report The statement said: “It has been reported in a local English language daily newspaper that Mr Walter Nash, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, during his visit to Kuala Lumpur to attend the E.C.A.F.E. conference would discuss with Tunku Abdul Rahman, the Prime Minister of the Federation of Malay, the question of the federation joining S.E.A.T.O. “As far as the Federation Government is aware, Mr Nash is coming to Kuala Lumpur as leader of the New Zealand delegation to E.C.A.F.E. and no arrangement has been made regarding any discussion between the two Prime Ministers on the question of the Federation becoming a member of S.E.A.T.O.

“In order to prevent any misapprehension, the Ministry of External Affairs would like to point out that His Malayan Majesty’s Government has already made clear His Majesty’s Government’s stand with regard to’ S.E.A.T.O. Mr Nash, commenting on the Government’s statement, said: “I have no intention of discussing Malayan participation in S.E.A.T.O. formally with the Prime Minister. “As, however, we have common interests in the area, it may come up informally. If it does, I will be happy to discuss the reasons for S.E.A.T.O. and the value New Zealand sees in it

“Any question of Malayan membership is. however, completely a matter for the independent Malayan Government,*’ he said.