ASIA AND FAR EAST HAVE LEFT PRE-WAR DAYS BEHIND THEM

Wanganui Chronicle, 30 November 1948, Page 5

ASIA AND FAR EAST HAVE LEFT PRE-WAR DAYS BEHIND THEM

Conference Opened In Blue Mountains SYDNEY, Nov 29 (Recd 10.30 pm). —“The establishment of five new independent nations in Asia within the past hree years and manifestations ot well-developed nationalism in other Paris of Asia and the Far East are a clear indication that the Asia which we knew in pre-war davs has been left behind." said the Governor-Gen-eral of Australia. Mr. McKell. at Lapstone when opening the fourth session of the United Nations’ Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East conference. “There can be no question of a return to pre-war conditions.” he said. “This must be a basic principle in all our thinking about Asia and the Far East."

Mr. McKell stressed the importance of the economic reconstruction and development of this area, and said the benefit derived from these efforts would be felt throughout the whole world.

A message of welcome from the Prime Minister of Australia. Mr. Chifley, was read bv the Minister of Defence and Reconstruction. Mr. Dedman, who said the nroblem of the Commission was to remove the causes of international conflict by raising the living standards of the people of Asia and bring economic security.

“I a nutshell, the object of the Commission is to put the Security Council out of business," he said. The fourth session of the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East went off to a bad start at Lapstone to-day when an official of the Secretariat hoisted the blue United Nations flag upside down. When the flag did not Properly unfurl cameramen and newsreelmen asked that the ceremony be re-performed. Professor H. C. Gellssen, head of the Dutch delegation, was heard to say emphatically:—"No. The ceremony cannot be repeated.” Bystanders’ comments were: "Well, the world is at present upside down so the flag is in keeping with the times."

Delegates, advisers, and staff, representing 16 of the 18 nations which are members and associate members of the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East, have arrived at the Blue Mountains. Accommodation for about 150 delegates and their staff is scattered all over the Blue Mountains, from Penrith to Medlow Bath. The Lapstone Hotel ballroom is the main conference room and is decoratedated with the flags of the nations, including that of Russia, and before each delegate’s seat is a microphone. Many ot the normal bedrooms of the hotel are taken over for offices and committee rooms, and only 55 of the principal delegates are lodged there. The British delegation, which objected to being divided, has elected to stay at Leura. An impressive fleet of Commonwealth cars will use hundreds of gallons of petrol daily, taking the delegates and staff to and from their lodging places. The Soviet delegation of 15. which will be the largest at the conference, arrived by plane tonight.

The conference will be conducted in three languages—English, French and Russian. It was opened this afternoon by the Governor-General, Mr. McKell, after the official raising of the blue flag of the United Nations bv the executive secretary of the Commission, Dr. P. S. Lokanathan. After a speech by the Australian Minister for Post-war Reconstruction. Mr. J. J. Dedman, the conference adiourned to attend a reception by the Governor-General.