DEFENCE OF MALAYA

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30120, 2 May 1963, Page 14

DEFENCE OF MALAYA

N.Z. Would Act Promptly (N .Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) KUALA LUMPUR, May 1. Mr Eyre, New Zealand’s Minister of Defence, said in Kuala Lumpur today that his country would act promptly to any request by Malaya for aid in the event of aggression in this region. “So doing, New Zealand will be conscious of the vital importance of the security of Malaya to itself and its long tradition of assisting friendly countries that are victims of aggression,” Mr Eyre told a press conference before he left for a visit to the Terendak camp, where Commonwealth troops are stationed in Malaya. Mr Eyre said his country, supported Malaysia. He said that since 1955, New Zealand had maintained her armed forces as part of the Commonwealth strategic reserve to guarantee the peace and security of South-east Asia and had assisted in antiterrorist operations in Malaya. He said that although New Zealand was not a party to the Anglo-Malayan defence agreement. New Zealand was closely associated with it. “Apart from being associated with the agreement, New Malaya and has forces availMalaya and has forces avilable in the area,” he said. Mr Eyre continued: “While our association with the Anglo - Malayan defence agreement creates no formal treaty obligation, the New Zealand Government will deal promptly with any request for assistance in the event of aggression against this area.”