New Zealand offers Congratulations To The New Government

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27275, 29 December 1949, Page 5

New Zealand offers Congratulations To The New Government

PA WELLINGTON, Dec. 28. Commenting on the cable reference to New Zealand's absence from the' sovereignty celebrations marking the. formation of the new United States of Indonesia, the Minister of External Affairs. Mr Doidge, said today that so far as he was aware no invitation was’, extended to New Zealand to attend. However, the United States of In-' donesia would enter upon its reignty with the utmost goodwill of., the .New Zealand Government.

Referring to the absence of New, Zealand Consular representation in the Indonesian capital, Mr Doidge said the question would be examined by the new Government along with broaderconsideration of diplomatic representation generally. ,

New Zealand would be interestedin trade from Indonesia. Before the Second World War the Dominion had much trade with that part of the world, and the possibilities of its re--vival were considerable. The extent sion of trade was vital to New land, and Indonesia’s export potential of such items as. tin, petroleum, sugar; vegetable oils and quinine could be ait important factor in strengthening the' commodity markets of the world. ‘‘The sincerity with which we offer our congratulations to the new Government and our good wishes for th6> future will be manifest when the President, Dr Soekarno, and the Prime Minister, Dr Hatta, remember that it was on the motion of the New Zealand delegate supported by Australia that Indonesia was admitted, last year as an associate member of the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East.”

Mr Doidge added: “A new nation of - 72,000,000 Indonesians has been born. The islands comprising the new union represent almost a continuous land bridge between Asia and Australia. We have many interests in: common and a good neighbour policy is naturally desirable.” * . -U