N.Z. Position In Malaysia Dispute “Very Clear”

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30420, 20 April 1964, Page 11

N.Z. Position In Malaysia Dispute “Very Clear”

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) BANGKOK, April 19. If there was a deterioration in the MalaysianJndonesian dispute there was “no doubt what New Zealand would do,” the New Zealand Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) said in Bangkok.

Answering questions at a press conference on his arrival from Djakarta, Mr Holyoake said New Zealand’s position was very clear. “For many years we have given Support to Malaya and now this support is transferred to Malaysia which is a fellow member of the Commonwealth,” he said.

Asked to clarify New Zealand’s position on the Malaysia dispute after his recent talks in Djakarta with Indonesian leaders, Mr Holyoake said his country’s position was “very clear.”

New Zealand was a member of the British Commonwealth and for many years had given, military support to Malaya to fight Communist infiltration, he said. Recently New Zealand and Australia had given further assistance to Malaysia mainly in the form of training for Malaysian forces.

Mr Holyoake said: “New Zealand has Quite unequivocally and quite clearly declared itself in favour of the formation of Malaysia and our support for it. The military obligation which we earlier gave to Malaya itself has been clearly transferred to Malaysia.” Mr Holyoake said: “We have friendly relations with Indonesia. I hope they will continue. They can continue only if the Indonesians do not create a serious deterioration of the situation in Sarawak and Sabah as a result, of military activities.

“If the situation deteriorates seriously in'that respect, then there is no doubt of what New Zealand will do and that is understood by the Indonesian Government.” On his talks with President Sukarno and the Indonesian Foreign Minister (Dr. Subandrio), Mr Holyoake said that at this stage he could not say anything publicly. FRENCH TESTS Asked if he had discussed French nuclear tests in the Pacific with the French Foreign Minister (Mr Couve de Murville) in Manila, Mr Holy, bake said Mr Couve de Murville had assured him that the matter would be considered. ■' Mr Holyoake said he hoped to have “very friendly and helpful” talks with the Thai Prime Minister, Field Marshal Thanom KittikaChorri, who met him at the airport. Mr Holyoake will visit Royal New Zealand Air Force units and Army engineers stationed in north-east Thailand. on Wednesday. The hope that New Zealand and Indonesian forces would not be employed in action against each other was expressed by Mr Holyoake to President Sukarno on Friday. After a morning of meet-

ings with Indonesian Government leaders, Mr Holyoake said in a private interview that the discussions were very frank and covered a lot of ground. “I explained New Zealand’s commitment to Malaysia and our increased contribution to Malaysian defence, as well as the general nature of our obligations and undertakings,” he said.

“I expressed the very sincere hope that the point would not be reached in the Malaysia-Indonesia dispute where our forces would be employed in action against each other,” he said. Mr Holyoake said he had emphasised that New Zea-

land wanted to continue its present friendly relations with Indonesia. “They fullyunderstood our position and the expressions of friendliness were reciprocated.” NOT MEDIATOR Mr Holyoake said the possibility of the resumption of negotiations between Indonesia and Malaysia, to bring about a lasting political settlement in the area, had also been discussed. “At the same time I emphasised that I did not come as a messenger or a mediator and that I was not carrying messages back to anyone,” he said. Mr Holyoake commented that all the talks went as expected. He had discussions

with Dr. Subandrio and the Defence Minister (General Nasution) as well as with President Sukarno. Friendliness prevailed at a luncheon given by Dr. Subandrio for Mr Holyoake. Commenting on his talks earlier in the day with Mr Holyoake, Dr. Subandrio said Indonesia understood and did not resent the New Zealand point of view. NO INDEPENDENT LINE New Zealand’s decisions in the South-East Asia region have always been, and would continue to be, taken In close consultation' with Malaysia, Britain and Australia, Mr Keith Holyoake said on Friday when asked to comment on reports that New Zealand was developing an independent line towards Indonesia. Observers in Djakarta said Indonesians were largely unconcerned with New Zealand’s announcement she would giye military aid and troops to Malaysia if the situation deteriorated. Mr Holyoake pointed out on bis arrival that New Zealand did not manufacture arms and Indonesians realised that any military aid New Zealand might give would be email. PAPER'S COMMENT The brief working visit of Mr Holyoake to Djakarta was not without political significance, said the “Indonesian Herald” on Friday. The editorial said: “He may bring the warm friendship and greetings of the people and Government of New Zealand to the people and Government of Indonesia and naturally Indonesians will gracefully and generously respond to these sentiments, but glossary apart he may very well act as the Spokesman or envoy of the United States, Britain and Australia who, together with him, have ahaped a policy in defence of Malaysia which was adopted in the S.E.A.T.O. conference in Manila recently,” The newspaper said Indonesia did not find it worth the while to comment on Mr Holyoake’s announcement of aid offer to Malaysia and pledge to send New Zealand troops to help defend Malaysia should Indonesia’s hostility flare into open military aggression. “He is free to repeat this statement before President Sukarno if he wishes to do so, as long as he is aware that Britain will defend its Malaysia project to the last NewZealander,” the editorial Mid, Mr Holyoake last night met 15 Indonesian Colombo Plan students who will study at the English Language Institute to Wellington soon. The students were at a reception held for Mr Holyoake by the New Zealand Minister in Djakarta, Dr. R. A. Lochore.