Big Political

Top U.K. Experts Moke Appraisal

Pacific May See

Changes Soon

By a Staff Writer

An appraisal—and probably

a painful one—is now being made of British and Common wealth possessions in the South Seas in relation to world political

developments.

i ALTHOUGH the outcome may not be known for some time, it will without question affect political think ing, and perhaps mean the re-shaping of plans in Pacific and world capitals.

Main fact-gatherer for the appraisal appears to be Mr. Trafford Smith, an Under Secretary of the British Colonial Office, and British specialist in South Pacific affairs.

He has been in the Islands since December, and when he departs for London in late March he will have completed an extensive examination of conditions in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony; the Kingdom of Tonga; the Condominium of the New Hebrides; the British Solomon Islands Protectorate; Pa p u a-New Guinea; and the British Colony of Fiji. He has also visited the South Pacific Commission headquarters in Noumea.

Follow-Up Visit

After leaving Port Moresby on February 23, where he listened with the liveliest interest to debates in the House of Assembly, Mr. Smith had talks in Sydney, Melbourne, Can berra and Wellington, before return ing to Suva for more talks with the Governor, Sir Derek Jakeway. Sir Derek had also made an important trip to Australia only the week before.

Mr. Smith will return to London before the Parliamentary Under secretary for the Colonies, Miss Eirene White, leaves London for a follow-up visit to the Pacific. She is expected to complete arrangements for the Fiji constitutional conference in London.

Britain, Australia and New Zea land control or influence all the South Pacific territories with the exception of French Polynesia, New Caledonia

and American Samoa. Western Samoa and Tonga are under British influence and Britain shares re sponsibility for the New Hebrides with the French.

Britain is well aware that the future security of the South Pacific could be threatened by the growing Com munist power in South-East Asia, and that the only organisation which seeks to co-ordinate developments among the variety of Administrations controlling these widely scattered islands is the South Pacific Com mission, which is a body represent ing the five metropolitan powers, plus Western Samoa.

But SPC activities cover only such matters as health, social and economic affairs, in an advisory capacity, and the SPC carefully avoids any in volvement with political affairs or defence. Under its charter it is not able to be involved Yet the importance of concerted action on a wide range of matters in cluding politics and defence is becom ing more obvious every month and some SPC members are coming around to the belief that the charter may have to be widened. There are some who will oppose widening.

Co-ordination Essential But the fact remains that there must be co-ordination in the South Seas, for with the pressures that are coming, and with the financial, economic and defence aid that will be needed, a fragmented South Pacific will be unworkable.

For how long can Britain be ex pected to finance and protect her South Pacific territories? Has she any right to ask Australia and New Zea land to share her burdens? These countries do enjoy the cream of the trade of the South Pacific.

And how much support can Britain expect from the United States—how much responsibility for the South Seas is the United States willing to take? Must Britain, the US and France share the problems or can they be carried by somebody else?

In the light of events in Africa and Asia these problems cannot be ignored much longer and the continu ance of a laissez faire policy may bring disaster.

Which of the bigger nations will take the initiative? There is now no doubt that British officialdom is mov ing, and both Britain and the South Seas generally are entitled to hope that Australia may not be far behind. • A pearl shell with 15 pearls inside was found in the lagoon at Aitutaki, Cook Islands, recently. It was the first pearl-bearing shell to be found at that island.