ASP AC Meeting Ends

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31089, 18 June 1966, Page 22

ASP AC Meeting Ends

(N.Z. Press Assn. —Copyright) SEOUL, June 16. The nine-nation Ministerial conference today announced the formation of an “Asian and Pacific council” for regional co-opera-tion, then joined their voices in deploring the rejection of moves to bring peace to Vietnam, the Associated Press reported.

New Zealand and Australia are members.

The joint communique of the Asian-Pacific Ministerial conference in Seoul did not mention the Communists, but the wording implicitly referred to Hanoi and Viet Cong rejections of Western peace offers, delegates said. The communique, issued after differences cropped up on this third and final day of the conference, also deplored nuclear tests in the area. It did not name France or China specifically, but the wording was dear. Three nations submitted drafts of the anti-nuclear test statement and Japan’s was the one accepted. Japan has been anxious not to single out any Asian nation for criticism or to allow the Ministerial meeting to become a new military or political bloc. Despite Japan's efforts, China, in a Radio Peking broadcast monitored in Tokyo, interpreted the conference as being opposed to it. “It is an important step in a China containment policy through bolstering an Asia anti-Communist alliance with Japan as the core after the United States shifts emphasis of its military strategy to the West,” the broadcast said. “At the same time it is

part of a plot to increase the collusion between the United States and the Soviet , Union and for them jointly to oppose China.” Bangkok Next The final communique Included a statement reaffirming support of a United Nations formula for the reunification of Korea. Also outlined in the communique was the machinery for continuing the consultations started in Seoul. A second conference will be herd in Bangkok next year. The New Zealand Minister of Customs (Mr Shelton) described the communique as “first class.” He was pleased that it did not indulge in sabre rattling which might frighten other countries from coming in.

Mr Shelton told reporters: "Co-operation is the word and co-operation was the theme of the whole conference.” He said that the final degree of permanency of ASPAC would depend on what its members did over the years. There was satisfaction in the Japanese, Australian, New Zealand and Malaysian delegations that the communique avoided the impression that a new formal organisation had been created.