Canberra

Commentary

From our Canberra Correspondent The meeting of the ANZUS Council in Canberra on May 7-8 should provide a magnificent op

portunity for a frank exchange of

views on the Indonesia-West New Guinea crisis.

THE Council will comprise the US Secretary of State, Mr. Dean Rusk, the Australian Minister for Ex ternal Affairs, Sir Garfield Barwick, and the NZ Prime Minister and Minister for External Affairs, Mr.

Holyoake.

For the first time, the Council will be meeting in Australia.

And the meeting will be held within flying distance of the only in ternational dispute which has closely concerned all three parties since the ANZUS Treaty came into force in 1952.

Announcing the meeting, Sir Gar field Barwick said: “The Council provides a forum for the exchange of views on matters of common in terest affecting security in the Pacific area in which Australia, NZ and the US are vitally interested.”

By that definition. West New Guinea must rank with Laos as the most important issue on the agenda. * * * The vital West New Guinea took a back seat at the beginning of the Parliamentary session.

The Opposition omitted the sub ject entirely from its censure motion, claiming that it was reserving its arguments for the full-scale debate on a statement promised by the Ex ternal Affairs Minister, Sir Garfield Barwick.

But the Government interpreted this as an admission that the state ments made in early February on NNG by Opposition Leader Arthur Calwell were out of line with the ideas of the rest of his party.

The Prime Minister, Mr. Menzies, twitted Mr. Calwell with failing to repeat his “bellicose” statements, ac cused him of damaging relations with Indonesia by his personal attacks on President Soekarno.

By these tactics—which ignored the basic economic nature of the cen sure motion—Mr. Menzies sought to drive a wedge between Mr. Calwell and his supporters.

But in terms of an exposition of foreign policy, the Prime Minister did not add one word to his previous statements on Australia’s attitudes

to the Indonesian-Netherlands c pute.

In the early hours of the sessi the Senate spent more time on N Guinea than the House of Rep sentatives, which virtually igno West New Guinea in its concent tion on the Buka affair.

But Senators are not notable covering new ground, and most their speeches were merely a re-h of old arguments. Some of the m thoughtful or provocative contri tions came from; Senator Kendall (Lib., Qld.): the head tax which has caused much trouble on Buka were cal a “social services contribution” stigma would be attached to it i collection problems would be easec Senator McCallum (Lib., NSV The ideal settlement of the West IS Guinea issue would be for the trusl ship of the whole of New Guinea be transferred to Australia.

If the Netherlands decide to tra fer the title, it should be di honourably. The Dutch should compensated for the work they h done in building up the new State.

There should be clear and unt takeable guarantees that the missi should be continued.

Senator Aylett (Lab., Tas.) arg in favour of more encouragement aborigines: If Senators want an il tration of what natives can do t have only to look at the advancem of the people of New Guinea. T have responded much quicker t was expected, although some d culties are being experienced then the moment!

Mr. Lucock (CP, NSW), on Indonesia-NNG issue: The Gov( ment is doing perhaps the only tl possible.

Any weaknesses in our policy s from our failure to face the reali of this situation five, six or se years ago.

Much of the trouble in our r tions with Indonesia was initiated the attitude of certain trade uni particularly on the waterfront.

They refused to load ships goinj Indonesia, and some of the probl we face today can be traced to time, when the Labour Party the Government in this country.

Mr. Falkinder (Lib., Tas.), in of the few public criticisms of change of emphasis in Governn policy: Some of our Ministers thoroughly wrong in their estimat They are as extreme in one direc as Mr. Calwell is in the other. IS isters believe that Indonesia can a curtain against Communism, the Indonesians are inclined to very much pro-Red.