Canberra

Commentary

From our Canberra Correspondent Somebody boobed when in an ex cess of zeal and a needless display of timidity, the Territories Department and the P-NG Administration attempted to put a security screen around New Guinea’s first representa tive at the Trusteeship Council, Mr.

Ephraim Jubilee.

FROM the time he left the Terri tory until he left Sydney Mr.

Jubilee was cosseted by officials ap parently determined to keep him away from journalists. They weren’t always successful.

Their action was unfortunate, be cause it left the impression that Mr.

Jubilee was a man who had to be told by the “Administering Authority” exactly what he should say.

No more damaging weapon could be handed to those in the Trustee ship Council who give Australia less than credit for what she is doing in the Trust Territory.

In sending Mr. Jubilee to sit along side Australia’s Special Representa tive, Mr. Dudley McCarthy, the Com monwealth Government was going be yond the requirements of the Trusteeship Council.

The Council had merely asked for a Nauruan “at least” to visit New York.

Mr. Jubilee’s presence at the Coun cil is proof that Australia is prepared to rise above minimum demands.

But in doing so it would be un fortunate indeed if we should appear to be sending an adviser who had been so groomed that his role could be twisted by those who would seek to hide their own imperialism behind shouts of anti-colonialism.

Our critics might not scruple to distort Australian newspaper reports of the way in which Mr. Jubilee was hustled through airports into some thing far more sinister than was ever intended.

Because it must not be forgotten that every line appearing in Austra lian newspapers on the trust terri tory problems is read avidly behind the Iron Curtain and carefully filed against the day when it can be trotted out and used as ammunition in the Security Council.

The care taken to shield Mr.

Jubilee appears to have been mis guided.

In his talks in Canberra he showed himself to be a shy, sensitive man unlikely to talk wildly in newspaper interviews. (ov er)

Rather, he revealed himself to officials as one who was well back grounded in UN affairs.

Whatever criticism there may be of the way in which Mr. Jubilee was shepherded through Australia, full marks must be given to whoever ad vised him to wear distinctively New Guinea clothing when he arrived in New York. (Was it the astute Dudley Mc- Carthy, who made the flight with him?) Because by appearing in national dress, Mr. Jubilee would be spared the indignities which some Ameri cans inflict on their own citizens of colour.

Jk * It’s a pity the Army could not apply the same imagination to its publicity as it has applied to its use of the Royal Australian Engineers in

P-Ng.

The Army has decided to extend

its activities beyond mere barra building and is to co-operate activ with the Administration in gem civil engineering projects.

The detachment of about 80 n which has been working at Mew near the Dutch New Guinea bon is being replaced by the 24th C struction Squadron.

Men being relieved, who hr been in P-NG for two years, hr been building an Army outstation Mcem.

The new force will finish the cs at Moem, but it will also co-ope« with the Administration in mr

more important developmental tat

One of these will be the builo of a light aircraft strip at Vanii about 20 miles from the N 1 border.

The men will also get valujj experience in working in tropical o ditions by building roads and bridt But the Army, instead of capita ing on the possibilities of s imaginative use of troops in deve: ing one of the more out-of-the-corners of the Territory, pussyfoM the whole announcement.

Army Minister John Cramer v out of his way to say that til was “no special military significau in the proposal.

And he seemed to be emphasiii that the strip at Vanimo would: for “light” aircraft.

Maybe the Government frightened of drawing too muchc tendon overseas to the use of a tralian troops in the Territory.

But frankness would serve itse terests better than timidity.