N.Z. VISIT BY MR R. G. CASEY

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27397, 9 July 1954, Page 10

N.Z. VISIT BY MR R. G. CASEY

Consultations With Mr Holland ANZUS PACT AND ASIAN ISSUES (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 8. The Australian Minister of External Affairs (Mr R. G. Casey) gave a “most valuable picture of current developments” when he met the Prime Minister (Mr Holland) and two senior Ministers this afternoon. In a statement on the discussions, Mr Holland said that the Government had received a valuable, up-to-the-minute, and first-hand report on some international matters closely affecting New Zealand. Mr Casey, who arrived in New Zealand today, was accompanied at the meeting by the Australian High Commissioner (Mr P. Heydon). The New Zealand Ministers were the Minister of External Affairs (Mr T. C. Webb) and the Minister of Defence (Mr T. L. Macdonald).

Mr Holland said' that Mr Casey’s visit permitted a first-hand contact with a senior Minister of a partner nation whose interests were intimately and vitally connected with those of N’ew Zealand.

Mr Casey, he said, had given his impressions of the Geneva meetings and an account of his discussions with various world leaders whom he had met on his journey from Geneva. Attention was paid to the problems of South-east Asia and to the meeting of the Anzus Council in Washington last week, at which Mr Casey led the Australian delegation. Mr Casey had had talks with Mr Dulles and with Mr Eden while in Washington, the Prime Minister said. “As a result of all these conversations and meetings Mr Casey was able to give a most valuable picture of current developments that interest New Zealand very greatly,” he added. Mr Casey is to meet Government Ministers again tomorrow.

N.Z. ATTITUDE TO CHINA MR CASEY DECLINES TO COMMENT (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND. July 8. Australia’s Minister of External Affairs (Mr R. G. Casey) today heard for the first time that New Zealand favours the admission of Communist China to the United Nations. The news clearly surprised him, but he said: “I don’t think I had better comment off-hand.” Mr Casey reached Whenuapai in a DC-6 plane at 9.30 a.m. An hour later he left in an R.N.Z.A.F. Dakota for Wellington.