Refusal To Support Air Strike Reported

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30560, 1 October 1964, Page 1

Refusal To Support Air Strike Reported

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, September 30.

Any responsibility for what he called “speculative reports sent from unauthorised sources in New Zealand,” was disclaimed by the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) today.

He was commenting on a report in the “Guardian,” London, that New Zealand and Australia had refused to support the idea of a British air strike against an Indonesian naval base earlier this month and that the plan had been cancelled.

The report also said New Zealand and Australia were lukewarm over the Malaysia struggle. The only other comment Mr Holyoake would make was that New Zealand was in the closest daily consultation with Britain, Australia and Malaysia. In the meantime, the Australian Minister of External Affairs, Mr Hasluck, today told the House of Representatives in Canberra that any unprovoked Indonesian attack on Malaysia would be countered. He said Australia had been In “close and effective” consultation with Britain over the defence of Malaysia. From London, the New Zealand Press Association’s special correspondent reports the “Guardian” story is described as “not 100 per cent accurate” by New Zealand circles in London.

The correspondent says that Whitehall comment is that there is.no basis for the report and that the British handling of the position had not been affected by the attitude of Australia and New Zealand. A Canberra report says the Sydney “Daily Mirror” said today Australia had approved a British plan to strike Indonesian bases if Indonesia landed any more guerrillas in Malaysia. The newspaper said New Zealand opposed retaliation proposals. “Wise” Move In an editorial, the newspaper also said “it is startling to learn that the British Government was touting a plan for an air strike against an Indonesian naval base earlier this month. Wisely, both Australia and New Zealand refused to support it then.” The “Mirror” editorial also said that “before the guns go off we should remind the militarists in London that it is we who live here and we who have most to lose from any such move. Retaliation would fall on Australia and Malaysia, not Whitehall.”