Withdrawal Of Plan For New Guinea Sought

Press, Volume C, Issue 29679, 24 November 1961, Page 13

Withdrawal Of Plan For New Guinea Sought

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) NEW YORK, November 22. Pakistan today called on Holland to withdraw its proposal that West New Guinea (“West Irian”) be placed under United Nations’ administration, pending a plebiscite to decide its future.

Mr Javed Iqbal said the to the dispute, and not acceptDutch proposal "cannot serve able to the other party.” as a settlement of the dispute The United States later concerning West Guinea.” urged Indonesia to accept the "It is obvious that a dispute projected Dutch withdrawal of the character can only be from West New Guinea. But settled by agreement, and not at the same time it cautioned by an unilateral declaration Holland that there was "no 01 by recourse to a device or purpose” in ignoring Indoproposal conceived and pro- nesia’s claim; to the territory. pounded by one of the parties The United States representative for trusteeship matters, Mr J. Bingham, told the i General Assembly that it would clearly be to [lndonesia’s interest to accept the prospective Dutch withdrawal and then to pursue its objectives through peaceful means.

He said the Assembly should not be asked to accept either the Dutch claim to

sovereignty over West New Guinea or that of Indonesia. The New Zealand delegate, Mr F. H. Corner, described the Dutch proposal on West New Guinea as “generous and imaginative” and “a constructive attempt to find a solution to this difficult problem, within the framework of the United Nations.” His country enjoyed the friendliest of relations with both countries, and wished to avoid the necessity of having to take sides in this dispute. “The Netherlands proposal, fortunately, does not preclude the possibility that the inhabitants of West New Guinea will eventually join Indonesia. It guarantees that the choice will be freely made.”

Mr Corner said the Dutch plan was an “epoch-making proposal. If it is merely thrust aside, it could reduce the likelihood of any similar proposal ever being made by any other power. If only for this reason, we assume it will be studied very carefully.” Noting the "strong negative reaction” of certain members to the Dutch proposal, Mr Corner said New Zealand had been "surprised and disappointed” by the Indonesian attitude.

But he believed he had “discerned the possibility of movement” in the Indonesian attitude from the statement of the Indonesian Foreign Minister (Dr. Subandrio) to the Assembly on Monday. "We do not think the Netherlands proposals preclude the objectives Indonesia seeks.” New Zealand, he said, would be "prepared however to examine proposals which would give Indonesia greater assurance.” He hoped that a greater measure of agreement would emerge before the question came to the vote.