Crisis Develops In The British Commonwealth Conference On Helping South-East Asia

Wanganui Chronicle, 17 May 1950, Page 5

Crisis Develops In The British Commonwealth Conference On Helping South-East Asia

United Kingdom Said To Be Guided By "Narrow Treasury Attitude"

SYDNEY, May 16 (Rec. 7.25 pm).—Commenting on suggestions that the British attitude had “bogged down” proceedings at the British Commonwealth Conference on the question of granting aid to South-East Asia, the leader of the United Kingdom dele

ggtion, Lord Macdonald, said: “I do not know who your informant is but he is badly misinformed. I am satisfied with the progress of the conference. The only policy my delegation is putting forward is the unanimous policy of the Imperial Government.” It is learned from authoritative sources that Mr. Spender is disappointed because he firmly believes that had the conference gone well, at least two Western countries would have been glad to join. The Netherlands had shown a deep interest and had lent more than a sympathetic ear to the suggestion that she join Commonwealth countries in building up the unstable Governments of some south-east Asian countries. It is also feared that failure of the Sydney conference will cause the United States to lose interest. Expected committee meetings have not yet taken place. Informed circles state that Mr. Spender has kept the conference in plenary session because he feared that if the conference broke up into committees decision on the matter of establishing a fund for the application for immediate relief would be postponed indefinitely. Afternoon papers give front page

space to stories of a crisis at the | British Commonwealth conference. I The “Sun" says: "A crisis has already 'developed. In camera talks late yes- ! terday revealed what appeared to be i a solid bloc of opinion against tackling 'immediately the problem of depressed areas. Pre-conference discussions among experts from the seven participating countries showed official disinclination to adopt a short term approacli to the situation. This attitude was described today as a ‘narrow Treasury approach,’ which it was argued, should be promptly rejected. “When the conference resumed in camera today, it is believed that Mr. Spender again warned of the dangers to world peace of pursuing a policy of drif in south-east Asia, and that this view was solidly supported by the leader -of the Pakistan delegation, who declared that the situation is for urgent and immediate action.’ "The Mirror" states: “Advocacy of go slow tactics by Great Britain and most other powers at yesterday’s closed sesslns of the conference has perturbed the Australian Government. It is reliably stated that only Pakistan, and, to a lesser extent,, Ceylon are showing any sympathy with the Australian view that there should be immediate aid to those parts of Asia facing a threat of Communist aggression."