Was Launched

Dismal Implications Of

Asian Populations

60m Increase Since Was Launched

SINCE the Colombo Plan was brought into operation (July 1, 1951), to try to cope with some of the acute politico-economic problems arising from the over population of Southeast Asia countries (not including China or Japan), the population of the countries concerned has increased by 60 millions.

That statement (made in an official Australian publication) shows the hopelessness of the Colombo Plan, or any other idealistic con ception of the kind.

Under the Plan, Britain, United States, Australia, Canada and New Zealand agreed to take part in a joint effort to raise the standard of life in the area of Southeast

Asia covered by the countries of India, Burma, Pakistan, Ceylon, In donesia, Malaya, Singapore, Thai land , Vietnam, and the smaller States thereabouts.

Britain promised £42 millions, spread over some six years; Canada, £5O millions, Australia, £34 millions; New Zealand. £3 millions, United States about £lOO millions.

Between them, the Anglo-Saxon nations are spending about £45 millions per annum on land im provement, irrigation, electricity, municipal service, communication and transport, and food production projects in the countries named.

Within the latter countries there are about 530 million people (one quarter of the earth’s population), and their breeding habits have not been disturbed by the Anglo- American Colombo Plan. As stated, since the Plan was launched, their population is up by 60 millions.

Australia’s share of the Plan is £34 millions. Up to June 30, 1957, Australia spent £22 millions of it.

In addition. Australia’s Univers ities are packed out with Asian students, many of them brought in under the Colombo Plan. In June last, the 2000th trainee under the Plan arrived in Australia. It was estimated then that there were 4,000 students from Asia and the Pacific Islands in Australia. £45 millions per annum will not go

far, when spread over 16 Asian countries, carrying 530 million people, Realistic observers will be pardoned if they fail to see how it is possible to achieve anything in the way of diverting, from these South Pacific countries, the inevitable southwards swarming of the Asians.

Behind the 530 million people in the Colombo Plan countries there are also 600 million Chinese and nearly 100 million Japanese, whose faces generally are turned south wards.

Coming of

Age

The smile that Miss Clare Perichon (centre) is displaying is pre sumably over something Mr. Chris Normoyle has said as he presents her with the traditional key, during her 21st birthday party in Port Moresby. Miss Peri chon's mother is o[?] the right.

Photo: Papuan Prints[?]