Formation Of ASPAC

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31087, 16 June 1966, Page 15

Formation Of ASPAC

(N.Z. Press Assn. —Copyright; SEOUL, June 15 Nine Asian and Pacific nations, including New Zealand, agreed today to set up a new non-communist regional organisation to foster broad cooperation in many fields. The organisation probably will be known as “ASPAC.”

The agreement came at a closed meeting of Foreign Ministers and other delegates attending the three-day Asian-

Pacific Ministerial conference. Members of the new organisation would be New Zealand, Australia, Japan, South Korea, South Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Nationalist China and Thailand. A tenth country, Laos, also attended the meeting in Seoul, but only as an observer. Several of the countries were known to favour continuing consultations on a regular basis, but not in favour of forming a new organisation.

There was agreement to establish a permanent organisation with some kind of secretariat. Details of the secretariat and other matters still had to be worked out.

The new organisation, at least at first, will be largely consultative. Controversy also could develop over how binding the organisation might he. The organisation will emphasise co-operation in economic and cultural fields but will net exclude political fields. However, military questions will be avoided. The organisation would be open to other members, according to Associated Press.

The idea is to create a grouping of non-Communist nations for mutual help in strengthening their economies and societies. They would avoid a direct anti-Communist position, but their joint efforts would obviously contribute to their security against aggression. In general policy statements yesterday, all but one delegate to the. conference mentioned the threat of communism. One Exception The only exception was in the speech by Mr Etsusaburo Shiina, the Foreign Minister of Japan. His country throughout the preparatory meetings has sought to avoid the inclusion of security and political matters on the agenda Mr Shiina was alone in refraining from a denunciation of communism.

Mr Narciso Ramos, the Philippines Foreign Secretary, was most active in advocating a permanent establishment.

He was quoted as saying “We don’t want our getting together to die in its infancy We don’t want it to be a meteorite passing across the sky."