Base Concession Wanted From U.K.

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30201, 5 August 1963, Page 11

Base Concession Wanted From U.K.

(N.ZP.A. -Reuter—Copyright) MANILA, August 3. Indonesia is demanding a say in the control of British military bases in South-east Asia in the event of war in the region, sources at the Malaysia conference said today. The present arrangement permits Britain to use its Malayan bases in time of war, once it has Malayan permission.

The sources said the Indonesian Foreign Minister, Dr. Subandrio, today proposed that the right be surrendered to the suggested confederation of Indonesia, the Philipnines and Malaysia—“Maphilindo.”

If there was war in Southeast Asia. Britain would have to consult the Governments of the three countries before using the bases. The reaction of the Malayan delegation to the proposals is not yet known. The Indonesian demand

came at the end of a day of a sudden change in the climate at the meeting between Indonesian, Philippine and Malayan leaders. Foreign Ministers of the three countries finished a session this morning, telling reporters the end of the conference was in sight. They met again this evening and after an hour announced that the conference —which began last Tuesday—would be extended, for the second time, by one day until Monday The principal issue at the talks has been Malaysia, sponsored by the Malayan Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, and opposed by President Soekarno, of Indon-

esia. and President Macapagal. of the Philippmes. Indonesian officials have accused Britain of trying to wreck the summit conference by forcing Malaya to stick to the federation date for Malaysia —August 31.

Without British ineiatence. Malaya would have been ready to postpone the formation of Malaysia, the Indonesians said.

Conference sources today said Dr. Subandrio's latest proposal was that Malaysia should come into being on the scheduled date in name only, with Borneo territories not a part of the federation right away, but remaining ‘‘in a state‘of twilight" until a United Nations referendum was held.

Malaya. Indonesia and the Philippines announced to. night they were near agreement on a formula for the United Nations to determine if the people of Borneo wished to join the federation.

The Foreign Ministers said they must meet again tomorrow to work out final details before passing their recommendations to the three

heads of Government. "The Ministers are nearing an agreement on a formula according to which the Sec-retary-General of the United Nations would be asked to ascertain the wishes of the inhabitants of North Borneo and Sarawak concerning

their proposed entry into the Federation of Malaysia," a communique said The communique did not men tion how the SecretaryGeneral would be asked to determine if the Borneo peoples, now administered by Britain, wished to join Malaya and Singapore under the new Malaysian Government.