MR NASH SEES BETTER HOPE FOR SUCCESS AT SUMMIT

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29388, 15 December 1960, Page 24

MR NASH SEES BETTER HOPE FOR SUCCESS AT SUMMIT

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Dec. 14. The new United States team enhanced the chances of the success of a summit conference to be held in the first six months of next year, the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Nash) said in an address to the Wellington Lions’ Club. “The world situation is bad, but it is better than it was six months ago,” said Mr Nash. “I can see that the new trio of Mr Adlai Stevenson, Mr Dean Rusk, as secretary of State, and the young,Mr Kennedy, as President, will offer great possibilities, and there is hope of success.” There was more hope than before, when American statements and actions had tended to warrant the resistance of Mr Khrushchev. Mr Nash said Mr' Rusk, who was only 51, would carry some of the greatness and wisdom of both previous Secretaries of State— Mr Dulles and Mr Herter. Disarmament Mr Nash said that the West’ and Communist blocs were divided on the principle involved in disarmament. The West wanted to settle conditions first and then agree on disarmament, while the Communist bloc wished to get agreement first and then discuss the conditions. The status of Berlin was one that he did not consider would be solved for a long time. “I hope we can find a way,” he said. “If we don’t it could be that we will face one of the worst positions since 1939.” Mr Nash also said that the coming together of the European nations, particularly a joining

of six nations already in common tariff agreements, and seven nations in another, could hit New Zealand hard in its search for markets. If the United Nations was forced to leave the Congo and the major Powers moved in, the world would be in danger of a major conflict, Mr Nash said. The United Nations was the only Power that could do the job properly, and the SecretaryGeneral (Mr Hammarskjold) fully realised the extent of his task.

It was possible that his 15,000 troops would have to fight a defensive war that could cause "rouble, but if he did not use them there could be greater trouble, said Mr Nash. Situation in Laos

The situation in Laos was disquieting, but there was no suggestion yet of outside aggression that could involve New Zealand under the terms of the South-east Asia Treaty. If there was any suggestion of outside interference, New Zealand would have to consider whether it should send military aid.

“I think Communist China ought to be in the United Nations, but not while it insists on taking Formosa,” said Mr Nash. “In the long run its entry is the only solution. The alternative seems to be conflict.”