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The three areas so defined come within the scope of the Eastern Political Section of the Department. As in the past, events in these areas have continued to be of particular significance to New Zealand and have therefore been closely watched. New Zealand has no diplomatic posts in Asia, although there is a Trade Commissioner in Bombay and a Trade Representative in Tokyo, and information that is received through the courtesy of other Commonwealth countries is therefore of great value. Our representatives at the fifth session of the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE) at Singapore and at the Colombo Conference of British Commonwealth Foreign Ministers had useful discussions with Asian Ministers and officials, and were able to study some of the problems of the area at first hand. In addition, the work of the various United Nations and other international bodies has afforded opportunities of meeting Asian representatives. During the period the subject of regional co-operation in Asia and the Pacific has aroused much interest, both in New Zealand and elsewhere. Proposals have been made for the establishment of organizations to ensure economic and cultural collaboration among the countries of the area, raise standards of living in the underdeveloped countries, or form a military alliance to resist Communist aggression. The Minister of External Affairs has said that New Zealand will support the Colombo plan for economic development in South and South-east Asia to the fullest possible extent consistent with her financial and economic resources. Tt was considered, however, that participation in this scheme and in the work of ECAFE would strain New Zealand's limited resources and that it would not be wise at this stage to take part in any other conferences or organizations concerned with regional co-operation in Asia. The desirability of having a Pacific Pact has been carefully studied. The Minister of External Affairs has made a number of statements approving the idea that the countries of the Pacific opposed to Communism should band together in common defence measures but pointing out that, to be successful, such a pact must include powerful countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and India. 2. Japan Japanese Peace Settlement No progress has been made towards the settlement of the longstanding disagreement between the major Powers over the procedure for the peace treaty for Japan. The attitude of the United States