New Guinea Progress

Downs, WLC, Offers

Six-Point Plan For

If the present Australian policy of benevolent neutralism indefinitely continued, the political future of New Guinea ill be exposed to all the perils and hazards which the new nail nation imperialism and communistic expansion in South ast Asia present.

lose of us who like to feel that .re part of Papua-New Guinea the view that Australia must lop a new strong and politically •artisan programme for the tory. e eventual plan I would pro would include these things: A referendum which would it all the people of the Terri to express or not express their to become Australians. This i establish the moral right for ralia’s future course of action.

The granting of Australian nship and nationality to all nhabitants who wish to become 'alians.

A system of incentives towards g eligibility, such as literacy, i would give an ever increasing Der of the people the right to Numerous alternate qualifica could be set up—not only as aeans of achieving the right to but as a means of accelerat :he acquirement of skills and mprovement.

Representation for New Guinea le Federal Parliament and a elective New Guinea Legisla- Council. The present Council farce of democracy and a bad pie for the people.

The granting of State status immigration.

A Customs union. 3se proposals must be put into ice in a firm and continuous Too much too soon will prove sstible. Too little too late will >e enough. Australia will have ye up a little to gain a great J danger of an influx of cheap r is more imaginary than real, people of Papua and New 5a own their own land and will ’s cling to their own country. within the Territory per nt immigrants from one dis to another are a mere hand :ial segregation and colour iousness will not become prob if we do not indulge in lonalism and remain stead ’ objective. 3re are all sorts of obvious ds and obstacles to the im mtation of such a plan, but I to you that Australia’s real ier is the Dutch New Guinea

border, whether Australia wants that frontier or not, and that you in Australia have no security and no political future as a nation if you do not proceed with a plan which will make Australia and New Guinea one country.

A beginning must be made through the mixed blood people who are capable of exerting a profound influence.

Every year, you admit as New Australians thousands of people who become citizens of Australia. Very few of them know as much about Australia as the people of New Guinea.

None have so many common in terests.

For years thousands of Papuans and New Guineans have yearned for

the Australian flag to become their flag.

I do not believe that Papua and New Guinea can achieve successful separate nationhood. I agree that, on their own, Melanesians as a race have already shown themselves m capable of mastering the challenge of their own environment to a Hpcrrpp whirh would nermit them to deg ree which woifld permit them to competition and ambition They need sincere Australian help and acceptance as partners.

In times of stress and war, people of all countries are forced into rea lism. In the last war. New Guinea in practice became part of Australia. That will always have to be true in similar circumstances, Together, Australia and New Guinea have some chance of sur vival. Separately they have none.