Malay Bloc Agree On Association

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30154, 11 June 1963, Page 13

Malay Bloc Agree On Association

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

MANILA, June 10.

The Indonesian, Malayan and Philippine foreign ministers have agreed in principle to develop a “form of closer association” among the three nations in formal talks here today.

A joint announcement issued after the meeting said the Philippine Foreign Secretary, Mr Emmanuel Pelaez, presented the Philippine proposal for a confederation uniting Malaya, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, and the British Borneo territories.

The foreign minis! mittee to study the Phi make recommendations

ters appointed a comilippine proposal and to to them.

The Indonesian Foreign Minister, Dr Subandrio, and the Malayan Deputy-Premier. Tun Abdul Razak, gave their views on the proposal They “accepted in principle the idea of developing a form

of closer association among the nations of this region and in particular among the three nations of Malaya, Indonesia and the Philippines." the announcement said The committee will submit its report at the next formal session tomorrow morning * The foreign ministers are meeting to prepare the way for summit talks among President Soekarno. Tunku Abdul Rahman and President Macapagal to settle their differences over the proposed Federation of Malaysia Their session this morning, held at the horse-shoe-shaped National Science Development Board pavilion, was their second formal session..

They had their first formal session last Friday, in which 'hey agreed on the conference procedure and agenda. They had three informal exchanges at the week-end. all at the suburban home of Mr Pelaez.