Australian Politician Looks At Dispute

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30447, 22 May 1964, Page 13

Australian Politician Looks At Dispute

(N.Z P.A.-Reuter— Copyright)

MANILA, May 21. Deputy Australian Federal Opposition Leader (Mr Gough Whitlam) said in Manila today he would have talks with the Philippine President (Mr Diosadado Macapagal) and other Government officials to get their views on the Malaysia dispute currently raging between Indonesia and Malaysia. Mr Whitlam said Australia hoped the Philippines would succeed in its mediating efforts in the Malayasia dispute. He said: “All parties in Australia support the right of Malaysia to deplore the infiltration by Indonesians into the Borneo State of Ma 1 a vcif* Mr Whitlam said, however, that his talks with Filipino officials would not only be confined to Malaysia. “I hope to hear their views on the question of trade and defence development in the Western Pacific,” he said. During his stay in Manila he will have talks with President Macapagal, the Senate President (Mr Ferdinand Marcos), the Speaker of the House of Representatives (Mr Cdrnelio Villareal) and other high-ranking Government officials “to learn what I can of the Philippines.”

This is the second visit of Mr Whitlam to Manila. He was there in 1945 just after the liberation of the Philippines from the Japanese occupation forces as a member of the Royal Australian Air Force.