Rhodesian Solution Held Essential

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30946, 30 December 1965, Page 10

Rhodesian Solution Held Essential

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, December 29.

The Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) warned today that if the Rhodesian situation were not solved, the threat of hostilities in Africa would be very real.

In his review of international affairs in 1965, the Prime Minister called for an end to the world’s dangerous situations — and for genuine progress toward a wider human understanding.

He reiterated New Zealand’s willingness to find a settlement of the Pakistan-India problem, and called for a confinement of the Rhodesian crisis. On the Vietnam question, Mr Holyoake said the course of events had shown the decision to send a New Zealand combatant force was the correct one.

“In no previous year in the last two decades has New Zealand given so much thought to the obligations and consequences of her international involvements,” said Mr Holyoake. “Inevitably we have been concerned over a numbez of sharp threats to the peace and unprecedented strains within the Commonwealth. “Our major military contribution is in Malaysia. New Zealand’s armed forces have been deployed in the Malaysian area for some 10 years, first fighting against Communist guerrillas in Malaya and more recently in defending Malaysia against Indonesian confrontation, which has been stepped up in the last year. Infantry and special air service units, R.N.Z.A.F. bomber, fighter and transport squadrons and ships of the R.N.Z.N. are serving or have served in this area. Dominant Issue “The struggle in Vietnam has, however, been a dominant public issue during the last year,” Mr Holyoake said. “There is no need for me to outline at length the com-

pelling reasons that led to the Government’s proposal and Parliament’s decision to commit a combatant force to Vietnam. That decision, and the whole Vietnam question, have been debated with assiduity and vigour in many quarters over the last seven months. “The course of events has shown the Government and Parliament’s decision to be correct. New Zealand’s vital interests are at stake in this war.

“While, for us, the principal threat to international security has been Malaysia and Vietnam, events in other areas have severely strained the fabric of international relations. Within the Commonwealth, in particular, three recent developments have offered serious threats of wider conflict. Federation Split “In August, the separation of Singapore and Malaysia saw the split of a federation established only two years ago. For New Zealand this was a most unwelcome event. We have for many years assisted in the defence of Malaysia and we have had a special interest in contributing to administrative and economic achievement in that area. Accordingly, we could not but regret both the circumstances and the substance of the decision by Singapore and Malaysia to disband their federal relationship. “Another difficult problem arose from the open hostilities that developed between India and Pakistan in September. Both countries are fellow members of the Commonwealth and both border China and occupy positions of great political importance

in South-Asia. Both have long-standing and valued ties with New Zealand. “New Zealand remains ready to assist in finding a more solid and lasting settlement between the two states in whatever way it can.

“At the request of the United’ Nations we doubled our personnel on cease-fire supervision duties,” the Prime Minister said. Dangerous Time “In Africa a dangerous situation has been created through the legal assertion of independence by the white minority regime in Rhodesia. If this situation is not solved, then the threat of hostilities in Africa is very real. The use of force would create more problems than it would solve. Our purpose must be to confine the Rhodesian crisis. Force would only extend it. “Threats to the peace lend urgency to the search for some sure machinery of international conciliation and peaceful settlement. For this reason New Zealand has always given staunch support to the United Nations, the prime and central purpose of which is peace-keeping. One example of such support of the United Nations is the maintenance of a New Zealand police unit in Cyprus. “It was in the forum of the United Nations that New Zealand answered for its stewardship in the Cook Islands on handing over to a self-govern-ing administration,” Mr Holyoake said. “The General Assembly has now approved the constitutional arrangements made for the future of the Cook Islands. Cook Islands “The new Cook Islands constitution came into force in August, ending 64 years as a colonial dependency of New Zealand. The concept of partnership that now exists is novel for an island group of this size but already the Cook Islanders are proving that the step forward they have taken is leading to a new vigour in the development of their community and resources. “The year 1965 has shown that much as man may aspire to world peace he still has far to go on the road to its accomplishment. “The world still endures conflict and some, like that in Vietnam, impose a bitter burden of suffering and loss. Such dangerous situations must be brought to an end. “But this in itself will not be enough. There must be genuine progress towards wider human understanding. Twice during the last year, New Zealand was able to contribute tangibly towards this objective. “In March the council of E.C.A.F.E. met in Wellington and, in the last few weeks, the annual conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association took place here. Each gathering represented in a practical way, the search for more meaningful international contacts and partnership. “They were thus i n full ac ' cord with those wider goals of human fraternity and tolerance to which New Zealand policies are directed,” Mr Holyoake said.