Why Doesn't P-Ng

Head Go To Un?

An occasional correspondent, who in this case signs himself for pub lication, “Kassa”, but whose name and qualifications are well known, in the following letter to the editors, criticises Australia’s reluctance to send the Administrator of Papua-New Guinea to the United Nations on trusteeship matters.

HE writes: PI M’s Canberra corres pondent {PIM, June, p, 27) is of the opinion that ‘somebody boobed’ in an excess of zeal and a needless display of timidity when an attempt was made to put a security screen around Mr. Ephraim Jubilee when the Trusteeship Council met recently in New York.

Somebody boobed all right; but it was neither the New Guinea Ad ministration nor the Territories Department. Or if the latter did, it was under direction.

It should be realised that Australian representation at all meetings of the UN and all of its committees is entirely in the hands of the External Affairs Department—in fact, in the hands of the Permanent Head and this explains the fact that no officer from either Papua-New Guinea, or from the Department of Territories, has ever been a member of Australia’s Permanent Delegation to the UN.

Great Mistake The greatest mistake External Affairs has made, and perpetuated, is one which has drawn caustic comment from a number of individuals con nected with the delegations repre sented on the Trusteeship Council.

I say ‘individuals’, because no delegation has any right to criticise or comment upon any aspect of national representation.

However, the remark which has frequently been heard is, “Why is Australia the only Administering Authority which has refused to send the head of her New Guinea Govern m£nt to assist the Trusteeship Council . cn the New Guinea Annual Report 15 being examined by the Council?”

As no explanation is readily forth coming as to why Australia should ~d alone in this respect, specula llon naturally follows.

As the Administrator must be emed to be a competent head of a J ernmen t—his eight years in office 4 recent knighthood certainly testify bat it follows that he is by far

the best person to answer Australia’s critics at the UN. Only Canberra can tell why Australia uses her second string.

I see PIM notes that the newly appointed High Commissioner of the US Trust Territory has gone before the Trusteeship Council. The US has never feared to face its UN critics with its Trust Territory Head of Government since the inception of the Trusteeship Council.

Administrator on the Job

Sir Donald Cleland, Administrator of Papua-New Guinea, visited many parts of the Territory during a long tour in July. Some of the highlights of the tour are reported in the "Pacific Report" section of this issue. Top photograph shows Sir Donald inspecting a police guard on his arrival at Goroka, Eastern Highlands. On the left is Inspector Frank Hoeter, and at rear is Mr. H. P. Seale, Eastern Highlands District Commissioner. In the photo below. Sir Donald inspects a police guard at Talasea, New Britain. With him is Mr. John Gauci, acting ADO for Talasea.

Official P-NG photos