U.S. Congressmen Going To Canberra Conference

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31031, 11 April 1966, Page 8

U.S. Congressmen Going To Canberra Conference

Topics to be discussed at the Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference to be held in Teheran in late September will be worked out at a planning conference in Canberra this week. This week-end the United States delegation of 14, headed by Congressman A. Pirnie, arrived in Christchurch for three days before attending the Canberra conference. Mr Pirnie said that 72 nations were members of the association and he expected as many delegates would be taking part. “Most of our work at the conference is done by committees. Their efforts are largely directed to framing the wording of questions on a wide range of subjects that will be presented to the full conference.” Mr Pirnie said his committee dealt with political questions such as national security and disarmament. Asked if Vietnam was likely to be included, Mr Pirnie said that the subject had been on the conference agenda before at Ottawa and that a fairly complete discussion had then been held.

“There has been very little change to the confrontation issue there, except perhaps an intensification of activity. At all times we have made it clear we would like to settle the Vietnam issue by international negotiation,” said Mr Pirnie.

Originally Senator H. Talmadge. of Georgia, was to have led the American delegation to Canberra, but he became ill before the mission set out.

Yesterday members of the mission and their wives flew to Mount Cook and the Hermitage. Later they visited the headquarters of the United States Navy Antarctic support force at Christchurch airport. There they received brief-

Ings by the United States Ambassador to New Zealand (Mr H. B. Powell), and by the base commander (Commander W. H. Withrow). Hr Pirnie afterwards said that both briefings had been “invaluable and highly informative.”

Early this morning the party will travel by air to Auckland. In the afternoon a wreath will be laid at the Cenotaph. Tomorrow morning the mission will leave for Canberra.