'More At Stake Than Vietnam’

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31053, 7 May 1966, Page 3

'More At Stake Than Vietnam’

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, May 6.

Greater things were at stake in the Vietnam conflict than the future of the South Vietnamese people, the Australian Minister for External Affairs (Mr Paul Hasluck) said when he arrived in Wellington tonight.

“What is being fought is not only the integrity and the independence of South Vietnam, but the future security of the whole of South-east Asia,” he said.

Mr Hasluck said he hoped the conflict would end in an agreement by the North Vietnamese to come to the conference table. The allies were not concerned with annihilating “the other side.” They were concerned with bringing them to the point where they would talk. Mr Hasluck is in New Zealand for a week-end meeting with the Government. SEEKING N.Z. VIEWS

Mr Hasluck said he would “mainly get New Zealand’s views on a wide range of subjects,” including defence. “I want to make sure my Government knows the views of the New Zealand Government before we make any decisions,” he said. Mr Hasluck said the Australian Government was watching the situation in Indonesia with a good deal of interest.

“There has been no

change in Indonesia’s policy, but there are certain signs that the new Government is giving increasing attention to economic and social problems. If it does this it will have less time and fewer resources for confrontation,” he said. FRENCH TESTS Mr Hasluck said the Australian Government was concerned at the intention of the French Government to hold nuclear tests in the Pacific. “We have made our views known to the French, and have made several protests, but in spite of this, the French are going ahead.” The Australian Government was ensuring the necessary precautions against possible effects from the tests, Mr Hasluck said.

“I must say that in this we are receiving the utmost co-operation from the French,” he said.