WEST IRIAN DISPUTE

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29908, 23 August 1962, Page 5

WEST IRIAN DISPUTE

64 Aust. Helped Prevent War”

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) CANBERRA. Aug. 22. The role of Australia and its allies in the West New Guinea dispute had helped prevent a large-scale war between Holland and Indonesia, the Australian Minister for External Affairs tSir Garfield Barwick) said yesterday. In a statement to the House of Representatives. Sir Garfield Barwick outlined the Government’s attitude to the settlement of the dispute. He said Australia's policy on West New Guinea would in time prove to be not only right, but “creditable and valuable to Australia and Australia’s best interests.” There were rowdy scenes in the House while Sir Garfield Barwick spoke. As he finished h.is speech. one labour member called “disgusting” and "what a shameful document.”

The acting leader of the Ooposition <Mr Whitlam) who spoke after Sir Garfield Barwick, accused the Government of “improvisation, procrastination and canitula‘ion” in its West New Guinea policy. Sir Garfield Barwick said that war in th' territory would have extinguished any hepe of the Papuans for eventual self-determination. “It would be wrong to begin Australia's new closer association with Indonesia in any sense of foreboding or recrimination,” he added.