N.Z. Sees S-E. Asia Power Changes

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30106, 15 April 1963, Page 11

N.Z. Sees S-E. Asia Power Changes

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BOULDER (Colorado), April 14. The New Zealand Ambassador (Mr George R. Laking) said on Friday that Indonesia’s military growth “has obviously upset the former balance of power,” in the South-east Asian area.

He said that current troubles ever formation of the proposed five-member Malaysia Federation reflected a chancing relationship between Malaya, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Mr baking, in a prepared address to a world affairs conference at the University of Colorado in Boulder, said New Zeeland recognised that the Philippines and Indonesia had “a real interest" in the neighbouring Borneo territories. and favoured “arrangements which can reconcile these complementary interests." “Deeply Distarbed" New Zealand, the Ambassador added, would be “deeply disturbed if these three friendly neighbours of ours allowed their temporary differences to turn them away from endeavours to strengthen schemes of regional co-opera-tion ” "My own Government, like that of the United States, regards the proposed association o’ the British Borneo territories with the independent Malayan Federation as a sensible way of ending one of the remaining colonial problems in the area.” Mr Laking said that the withdrawal of European control, in Asia just as in Africa, had led to a move to redefine national borders and to readjust traditional associations.

“The rise of a milrtarilypowerful Indonesian State has obviously upset the former balance of power in the area.” be stated.

“We have seen one immediate result of this changing situation in the transfer of West New Guinea from Dutch control to de facto Indonesian control."

Mr Laking continued: “The current troubles over Malaysia reflect a changing relationship between the three States of Malaya, the Philippines, and Indonesia.” Mr Laking said New Zeeland was trying to understand its Asian neighbours better and was establishing a network of diplomatic posts throughout the region. “It is seeking, with due modesty considering its size and relative inexperience in dealing with Asian politics to exercise a constructive and moderating influence.” he added.

"Through its mission in Malaya, and through its re-cently-established legation in Djakarta. I have no doubt that New Zealand diplomats will be adding their counsels of moderation to those of more influential nations.”