S.-E. ASIAN DEFENCE “Atmosphere For Decisions Difficult”

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31908, 8 February 1969, Page 1

S.-E. ASIAN DEFENCE “Atmosphere For Decisions Difficult”

CA’ew Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, February 7.

An atmosphere was being created round the problem of South-East Asian defence after British withdrawal in 1971 which could “make it difficult to come to the proper decisions in the proper atmosphere,” the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) said at a press conference in Wellington tonight.

Questioned about some of the statements issuing from Malaysia over recent weeks about the future Australian and New Zealand defence roles, Mr Holyoake said he did not wish to make any comment because it might “add fuel to the fire which is rising unnecessarily and, perhaps, harmfully.”

“These matters should be dealt with in the normal diplomatic way,” he said.

Mr Holyoake said the May 12 date originally set for a Canberra summit on defence in South-East Asia would not now suit because the next meeting of the South-East Asia Treaty Organisation was scheduled for Bangkok on May 14. An alternative date was under study. Asked about the likelihood of Australia and New Zealand deciding upon their role in the area sifter 1971 by the time the Canberra meeting was held, Mr Holyoake said

the issue was complicated in that the countries involved had to “match their ideas.”

However, it was possible that Australia and New Zealand would be able to formulate their forward thinking to the point of reaching a decision or getting close to a decision before the meeting. Final details could then be argued out at the conference. Mr Holyoake said be did not expect that the Malaysians in particular would not be unhappy about the shift of Anzac troops from Terendak to Singapore. “They’re unhappy. We’re all unhappy,” he said. “But it was the force of logic. The questions of cost and lines of logistic support finally determined us in making the decision.” ‘New Momentum’ Speaking about the “new momentum” he perceived in the Commonwealth as a result of the Prime Ministers’ conference in London last month, Mr Holyoake said one could expect to see an expanded New Zealand contribution to the organisation,

and an increase in levels of co-operation. Asked if New Zealand and Australia were regarded as giving identical views by other Commonwealth members, the Prime Minister said: “I believe there is an appreciation we have differing views, although we stand pretty close together by and large.” He said that the main purpose of his visit tp the three E.E.C. countries—France, Germany and Italy—was to put New Zealand's case in respect of agricultural exports "firmly on the line at the highest political level.” Very Heartening “I found a very sympathetic reception for our views and categorical statements of support—it was very heartening indeed,” he said. Mr Holyoake said reports reaching New Zealand during his visit to France that he had been coolly received by the French Government were not correct

The Prime Minister said that apart from the trade talks he had with the various Governments, it was still valuable for him to visit Europe.

“I was doing something which has not been done by a New Zealand Prime Minister for a long time, and it was appreciated,” he said. (Earlier Report, Back Page)