Terms Of Cease-fire Obstacle To Peace

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30369, 19 February 1964, Page 17

Terms Of Cease-fire Obstacle To Peace

(N .Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright)

KUALA LUMPUR, February 18. The Malaysian Government doubts the value of further peace talks with Indonesia, according to an official announcement.

It bases its opinion on Indonesia’s declared unwillingness to withdraw forces from Malaysian Borneo.

Withdrawal of Indonesian guerillas from Malaysia dominated ministerial discussion among Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines in Bangkok last week.

Malaysia insists that a cease-fire can be maintained only if Indonesian forces are withdrawn.

Indonesia argues that both the cease-fire and withdrawal are linked with over-all political settlement of the Malaysia dispute., Malaysia made it clear at the Bangkok talks that withdrawal would be essential for continuance of peace. The Indonesian Foreign

Minister, Dr, Subandrio promised to communicate by February 12 or 13 the decision of President Soekarno on the withdrawal but nothing has been heard, a Malaysian Government statement says today. Yesterday Dr. Subandrio was reported to have declared that Indonesian troops would not be withdrawn from Malaysian territories before a political settlement, the statement said.

“He is also reported to have said that he would be sending liaision officers to Bangkok to arrange for supplies to be'air-dropped to Indonesian guerrillas inside. Malaysian territory,” the statement said. “Since Dr. Subandrio has now publicly declared that Indonesian guerrillas would not be withdrawn prior to a political settlement, the Malaysian Government has grave doubts about the usefulness of further talks with Indonesia.” The statement continued: “The proposal to airdrop supplies to Indonesian guerrillas in Malaysian territories cannot be entertained.

. “The Malaysian Government considers that this latest move by Djakarta is calculated to give a semblance of the existence of ‘occupied’ areas within Malaysia, whereas in actual fact there are not more than 200 terrorists, including ‘regulars’ and ‘irregulars’ in Malaysian territories on the run. “Any implementation .of that move cannot be regarded otherwise than as a further act of aggression which will not be tolerated.” The Government of Thailand, the intermediary in the dispute, had been informed, the statement added.

More Argentine Wheat For China

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) BUENOS AIRES, Feb. 18. Argentina last night agreed to sell China 350,000 tons of wheat, doubling an earlier agreement. An Argentine Government spokesman said it was possible this would be increased to 1,000,000 tons in due course.