Papuan Independence 'Not Inevitable’

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30762, 28 May 1965, Page 11

Papuan Independence ' Not Inevitable’

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) CANBERRA, May 27 It was wrong at this stage to talk of independence as the inevitable, only, or immediate outcome for Papua-New Guinea, the Australian Minister for Territories, Mr C. E. Barnes, said today. Mr Barnes, opening the third seminar of the Australian Association for Cultural Freedom, said the territory had other choices apart from independence. To talk of independence as the only outcome for the territory was to slide over part of the question, he said. “We have undertaken to advance the people to selfdetermination, and that means the right to choose.” Mr Barnes said independence was certainly one pos-

sible choice, but among others were continued membership of the British Commonwealth and some association with Australia. “There is an infinite variety of such associations which are open for discussion between the representatives of the territory people and of the Australian people when the time comes, if this is what the territory people wish,” he said.

“Internal self-government is no doubt the minimum, and probably the first stage in any event.

“1 certainly do not say that self-determination depends on the achievement of economic viability. “But neither do I find attractive the attitude that the territory will never be economically viable so we can leave economic questions out of discussions on its future,” he said.