Future Actions Of U.K. Concern N.Z.

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31645, 3 April 1968, Page 1

Future Actions Of U.K. Concern N.Z.

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 2. The Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) said today that Britain’s enemies in Asia, as well as its friends, would be watching closely to see that deeds matched words.

Mr Holyoake was reported to have stated this at the three-hour closed session of the South-East Asia Treaty Organisation’s Ministerial Council meeting today.

He was speaking during discussion on Britain’s planned military withdrawal from Malaysia and Singapore by the end of 1971.

The New Zealand S.E.A.T.O. spokesman told reporters that Mr Holyoake had used “rather careful” references to Britain’s planned withdrawal.

He had told the S.E.A.T.O. Ministers that with Britain withdrawing from South-East Asia the whole of New Zealand's defence strategy would need to be replanned. The British Commonwealth Secretary (Mr Thomson) had assured the council that Britain would continue to support S.E_A.T.O.’s military policies, the spokesman said. Mr Holyoake had explained

to the Foreign Ministers of the seven nations attending the meeting that New Zealand’s armed forces had been trained and equipped to maintain a contribution to SouthEast Asia security in partnership with Britain. With Britain now withdrawing, the whole of this policy would have to be re-examined. The New Zealand spokesman said: “This will be done at the five-power conference (among Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore) in May.

“What Britain decided to do is of tremendous importance to New Zealand,” he said.

On Request Mr Holyoake had stated that Britain gave an assurance that it would retain a substantial military capa-

bility in Europe and Britain after 1971 and this could be deployed in South-East Asia on request, he said. The spokesman said Mr Holyoake had emphasised that New Zealand must retain South-East Asia in the forefront of its thinking. This meant that New Zealand was at a point of reconsideration but New Zealand would continue to seek the security of South-East Asia in partnership with like-minded nations. ‘Drastic’ Action The S.E.A.T.O. conference spokesman said that Mr Thomson had explained that Britain’s decision to withdraw from East of Suez had been taken with reluctance but had been forced upon the country by economic necessity. “There was no alternative to this drastic action,” Mr Thomson had told the S.E.A.T.O. Ministers. Mr Thomson had said Britain was not leaving behind an area of instability. Britain would be joining with its Commonwealth allies in the five-power conference to discuss future Commonwealth co-operation in the area, he said. (Other S.E.A.T.O. reports, back page.)