N.Z. Offers Unit For U.N. Peace-Keeping

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30586, 31 October 1964, Page 1

N.Z. Offers Unit For U.N. Peace-Keeping

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 30. A New Zealand military unit will standby for United Nations peace-keeping service wherever it may be needed, the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) announced this evening.

“No decisions as to the nature or size of the unit have been taken, but these questions are under consideration,” he said. “Canada, the Scandinavian countries, the Netherlands and one or two other countries have already formed, or announced their intention to form, stand-by units.

“It has seemed to the Government to be consistent with the emphasis which New Zealand—since before the Second World War—has placed on the concept of collective security, and on the development of world institutions which can effectively safeguard the interests of all, that New Zealand should take similar action within the limits of its present capacities,” said Mr Holyoake. The Prime Minister said the Secretary-General of the United Nations (U Thant) had been informed that—consistent with New Zealand’s tradition of sunport for the principle of collective security and its contributions to United Nations’ peace-keep-ing operations—the Government intended in principle to designate a unit for participation in future, properly instituted. peace-keeping operations of the United Nations. He said the proposed unit would be available for service in such operations at the request of the organisation and in the light of the Gov-

ernment’s evaluation of the general situation prevailing at the time of the request. “In communicating our intentions to the SecretaryGeneral we have indicated that the unit might be drawn either from the armed services or the civilian police,” said the Prime Minister. He said that before any final decisions were taken, there would be consultation with the Secretary-General and his military adviser. Useful Role This would be done to ensure the contribution New Zealand would make was one well-fitted to play a useful role in the varied emergency situations in which United Nations peace-keeping forces could be involved. Mr Holyoake pointed out that in preliminary studies of the question leading up to the decision, the Government had been concerned to ensure that a - commitment of this kind would not detract from New Zealand’s capacity to meet defence obligations and commitments it has elsewhere under collective security arrangements to which it is party. He said U Thant had firmly advocated that the degree of improvisation necessary in an emergency could be decreased I if countries would, in their

national planning, make provision for suitable units which could be made available at short notice for United Nations service. “In the light of the message concerning New Zealand’s intentions in this field, the Government has received an invitation to participate in a meeting in Ottawa,” the Prime Minister said. The meeting would review past experiences of United Nations peace-keeping operations, and views will be exchanged about the practical and technical problems which have been encountered in the course of operations. “Participants will be members of those countries which have maue major contributions of men to United Nations peace keeping opera-

tions, or have formed standby units for possible service, with the United Nations or announced their intention to do so,” said Mr Holyoake. Two New Zealanders in the United States will represent the country at the meeting in Ottawa. They will be LieutenantColonel L. W. Wright, Army Attache in the New Zealand Embassy at Washington, and Mr B. M. Brown, First Secretary in the New Zealand Permanent Mission to the United Nations. The meeting will be held in Ottawa from November 2 to