Canberra
p. 42 · Read in the full issue
Commentary
From our Canberra Correspondent.
If ever there was a doubt about the obligations on Australia’s “great and powerful friends” in relation to the defence of P-NG, it was set at rest by the com munique which followed the Canberra meeting of the ANZUS Council.
THE communique emphasised that the obligations of the ANZUS Treaty applied in the event of armed attack “not only on the metropolitan territory of any of the parties, but also on any island territory under the jurisdiction of any of the three Governments in the Pacific.”
That declaration meant a guaran tee of American aid should there be an attack not only on P-NG but on other Australian and New Zealand Islands territories.
There have been suggestions that
the US agreed to this declaration in return for a “softer” Australian at titude towards the Indonesian claims on NNG.
These suggestions came from New York—a long way from the meeting place—and there was nothing to confirm or deny them in the very limited leakages from the closed doors Council meeting.
The conference of the three Mini ters—Mr. Dean Rusk (USA), Sir Garfield Barwick (Australia) and Mr. Keith Holyoake (NZ) —certainly spent some time on the Indonesian problem.
But their consideration appears to have been a fairly detached study by three men who did not regard themselves as parties principal. How ever, NZ aligned itself firmly along side Australian attitudes on NNG.
And the conference at least gave an opportunity for re-stating Aus tralian thinking, particularly on the role which the US has played in the Indonesian-Netherlands dispute.
There were other references to Islands territories in the communi que, but they were of much less consequence.
The three Governments confirmed their intention to “move steadily forward with plans for economic and social welfare” and for “progressive development towards the stage at which inhabitants of the territories should have the opportunity to choose for themselves their future form of government and their future inter national relationships.” * * * No doubt about the US State De partment’s publicity men. They did not miss a trick when Secretary of State Dean Rusk came to Canberra for the ANZUS Council.
There were references to the Davis Cup, the America’s Cup, Radio Aus tralia broadcasts, his “good mates”
Barwick and Menzies, And, finally at the Parliamentary dinner—broadcast throughout Aus tralia—there was a tribute to the man who helped to save the life of President Kennedy, coastwatcher Reg.
Evans.
Said Rusk, after recalling Ken nedy’s experience in the South Paci fic and the ramming of his PT-boat
by a Japanese destroyer: “Lost or captured he and all ] crew would have been, almost c tainly, but for some friendly islandi and an Australian—one of that trepid band of Australians and N Zealanders who risked their lives lonely vigil behind enemy lines, watchers over half a million squ; miles of Melanesia.
“President Kennedy has asked i to convey his warmest regards a best wishes to the people of A tralia—and a special personal gre ing to Reg. Evans.” * * * The Returned Servicemen’s is pressing hard for expansion of 1 Pacific Islands Regiment and forn tion of an all-race CMF unit P-NG. The RSL wants the P expanded from the existing one b talion to three battalions.
League officials told Defer Minister Athol Townley that tra ing in the PIR and CMF would hi to develop a sense of responsibil in the native population.
Training would also help to ra their standards as citizens to the po where they could achieve a grea degree of self-government, the R said.
The RSL submission added: “T whole technique of Communist cc war strategy is infiltration in suppi of local dissidents. Why not ha locals on our side in advance, a well trained?”
There’s a lot to be said for t League’s case.
The Federal Government could worse than examine how the Indi Army spread education, health, a leadership through the villages of ] dia and what is now Pakistan.
The PIR and the CMF could just as effective a job in P-NG. * * * Surely there could be no me extreme example of “jobs for t defeated” than the appointment Major-General R. H. Wordsworth Administrator of Norfolk Island.
General Wordsworth was retir from the Indian Army 15 years aj He will get to Norfolk Island just time to celebrate his 68th birthday.
Until the week before his appoii ment was announced, he was Pre dent of the Tasmanian Branch of t Liberal Party.
General Wordsworth was a Libei Senator for Tasmania from 1950 ur he was defeated in 1959.
Because he is accepting an appoii ment “under the Crown” his £2l week Parliamentary pension will halved, but the Norfolk appointme is worth £2,750 a year, plus alio ances.