Regional Defence Pacts Defended By Mr Nash

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28541, 21 March 1958, Page 17

Regional Defence Pacts Defended By Mr Nash

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

NEW DELHI, March 19. The Prime Minister of New Zealand <Mr Nash) said today that he believed that the regional defensive pacts had done good work in avoiding conflicts. Mr Nash, who was addressing the Indian Council of World Affairs, said that regional defensive pacts had done good both in the Pacific and Europe. Such nacts were within the scope of the United Nations Charter, he Sa Mr Nash said that at the recent SE.A.T.O. meeting at Manila none of the delegates had made •ny -aggressive speeches." Praising the United States Secretary of State (Mr J. F. Dulles) for his contribution to the S.E.A.T.O. meeting, Mr Nash added: “I do not say that I agree with him on everything.”

Mr Nash said that in time there would be a “liberalisation” in the Soviet Union and in China. This not mean - however, the overthrow of the present regimes in those countries.

Mr Nash said that New Zealand would support the use of United Nations machinery to administer and police international agreements but was against proposals to reform the United Nations.

He thought that such proposals were impracticable at the present time.

He urged that there should be the fullest consultation among the British Commonwealth merhbers. He said: “To my mind, the Commonwealth, bv serving as a bridge between East and West between Asia and Europe, makes a valuable contribution to world peace.”

The non-smoking Prime Minister told a tiny Indian village today that he would break a 30 vears’ no smoking resolution and smoke again—to sample an ornate hookah which the villagers had just given him. “When I get back to New Zealand I will smoke this and think of your village.” he said. “It won’t be hard to remember. *

Singing villagers of Nilothi leapt about a great drum, clanged cymbals, hung ll flower garlands round Mr Nash’s neck and then showered him with rose petals when he walked along the dusty narrow main street.

New Zealand was considering establishing a diplomatic post at New Delhi. Mr Nash said today. The tonic had been discussed in his talks with Mr Nehru, and “a considerable amount of thought had been given to the possibility.” No decision had yet been made.

Today Mr Nash inspected the New Delhi milk scheme, to which New Zealand has given one-third of the cost with a grant of £BOO.OOO. and then went to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, to which New Zealand has contributed £1,000,000.