I No Thought Of Conquest In Korea, Says P.M.

Wanganui Chronicle, 2 December 1950, Page 4

I No Thought Of Conquest In Korea, Says P.M.

PARLIAMENT BLDGS., Last Night (PA).—“Our aims in Korea remain what they were—to do our part with others in the United Nations to endeavour to save and restore a country which has been, and is, the object ot aggression, and then to leave that country to settle its own affairs. There is certainly no aim of conquest in Korea, or beyond it.” This declaration was made in the House of Representatives this afternoon by the Prime Minister (Mr Holland) just before the session ended. “We face at this time a most serious development in the operations which the United Nations forces are conducting in Korea.” said Mr Holland. “The large-scale intervention of Chinese forces, designed to defeat the action of the United Nations, has produced a critical situation. How best the territories already recovered from Communist aggression in Korea may be defended from this new onslaught is for the m~tary to decide. And here let me say that I see little profit in speculations o-> in comments based on far from complete knowledge of the facts of the military operations, except to express our solidarity with the men who are bearing the brunt of the battle. These are from many nations, the United States chiefly, and New Zealanders will soon be with them. There are other dangers to the peace elsewhere even greater, but our immediate task, the {Treat need of the moment, is firmness and unity; unity with the Commonwealth countries participating, unity with the United States, which has done most, unity with all loyal members of the United Nations.

“Since the present Government took office it has made certain cables and other confidential information available to the leader of tho Opposition and the same facilities are available to the acting Leader of the Opposition as were available to Mr Fraser. Information continues to be received and I have been kept informed of the hour-by-hour developments as they have occurred, especially the communications between Mr Attlee and Mr Truman, as well as from our own ambassador in Washington, Sir Carl Eerendsen.

“Mr Attlee is to flv to Washington immediately for personal discussions with the President of the United States. Mr Truman.’Mr Holland said he would endeavour to keen Mr Nash informed concerning future developments as they hanpened. He would like to make a fuller statement than he was able to at this stage. The difficulty was in its preparation because the information was flowing in everv hour or so. He would keep Mr Nash informed of the developments in this very serious crisis as informaaion became available.