Confederation In S.E. Asia Proposed

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30291, 18 November 1963, Page 15

Confederation In S.E. Asia Proposed

(N Z.P.A .-Reuter—Copyright I BANGKOK, November 16. A new South-east Asian confederation has been proposed as a possible solution for the Malaysia dispute, according to Philippines sources in Bangkok. They said Malaysia would be welcome to join.

At the same time Japanese officials have announced that they are ready to assist in efforts to settle the question. Present in Bangkok at the moment are the Indonesian Foreign Minister (Dr. Subandrio), the Philippines Foreign Secretary (Mr Salvador Lopez), the Thai Foreign Minister (Mr Thanat Khoma), and the Japanese Deputy Vice-Foreign Minister' (Mr Takeo Oda). Mr Lopez, who was to have returned home tomorrow, told reporters he intended to extend his stay until Monday for “very important consultations which will continue today and tomorrow. It may be a break-through tor the over-all question.” Philippines officials said the Foreign Ministers of the three States were engaged in talks on the possibility of establishing a confederation of South-east Asia for cooperation in the fields of politics, economics, security and culture.

This would be an expansion of both the present Association of South-east Asia (a loose co-operative union of Milaya. Thailand and the Philippines) and "Mapahilindo.” a planned move to link Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia in a confederation.

Malaysia, whose Deputy Premier (Tun Abdul Razak) departed for home after attending this week's Colombo Plan Ministerial conference and talking briefly with Mr Lopez, is believed to have been asked to send a representative back to Bangkok. Before Tun Razak's denarture. Mr Thanat issued a statement saving his Government had produced a formula that mieht prove a basis for a settlement between the Philippines and Malaysia. Dr. Subandrio's Indonesian delegation arrived yesterday and said they were not going to press the' Philippines into anything. They were sure that country would follow the dictates of its best interests Dr Subandrio, Mr Thanat and Mr Lopez met for three

hours last night and for one hour today, before lunching together. The Indonesian and Philippines Ministers are also sharing the same Thai Government guest-house. Since arriving. Dr. Subandrio has had talks with Mr Oda. who will leave tomorrow for Kuala Lumpur for expected conversations with the Malaysian Prime Minister (Tunku Abdul Rahman). Indonesian officials are saying privately that their country realises that Malaysia is a fact. What they object to principally is the presence of Britain there.

Malaysia still has a Cabinet Minister in Bangkok. He is the Minister foe Agriculture (Mr Mohammed Khir Johari), who was here for the Colombo Plan conference. He said reports that Mr Thanat had asked Malaysia to send someone back to Bangkok were news to him.