South Pacific forum

Albert Henry wants a new South Pacific forum

By a staff writer

Cook Islands premier, Albert Henry, wants to see established in the South Pacific a mini-United Nations Organisation to operate independently of the South Pacific Commission. He officially put forward the proposal in Wellington and Canberra.

Mr. Henry told me in Sydney in May, after visiting Canberra, that the SPC should be limited to its original aims—giving help, social and technical assistance to the Islands.

He said that “soap box politics” by Islands leaders should not have its place in the SPC, but there was a place for it in the Pacific.

“The Islanders need a forum,” Mr.

Henry said. “The SPC is still a paternal body, formed by the metrohe trend for more say for the islanders.

Mr. Henry again stressed what he had to say in Sydney earlier (PIM, May, p. 31), that is—he was concerned with the way politics were taking a large part in SPC affairs.

He said he had approached Wellington and Canberra about his proposal of a “mini UN”, because such an organisation would need to be firmly backed by Australia and NZ.

Australia and NZ were Pacific powers which were an integral part of the Pacific, but the US, Britain and France were not. He said such a political organisation as he en visaged could be formed without France, if necessary, haven’t asked the French what t hey feel because their attitude is

dogmatic,” he said. “They won’t give

up their territories.” the feeling for resident Frenchmen Tllese peop i e will get their f ree( j om even if blood has to spi i t a nd I think this may have * / nnpn .. to nappen ' Mr. Henry said he found from his recent discussions that Australia and New Zealand did not compare their notes with each other on their relations with their own Islands ter ritories. Australia and New Zealand should co-operate more in this sphere.