Should Not Become Involved In Small Nation's Disputes

Taupo Times, Volume XIV, Issue 41, 27 May 1965, Page 12

Should Not Become Involved In Small Nation's Disputes

Jjarge nations should i iiot become involved in ! settling the disputes of siiialler ones, claimed the chairman of the Taupo Jjabour representation committee, Mr B. S. Gustafsoii, iii Tokoroa recently. Labour believed that it was wrong and dangerous for individual nations to settle differences by war. Labour recognised 'with gratitude that America had saved New Zealand from invasion 24 years ago and that the U.S.A. was our only protection against fiiture aggression from Indonesia or China. But, said Mr Gustafson, as a friend of the U.S.A., we should remind her that both World War I. and World War II. began ithrough large nations involving themselves in the affairs of smaller nations, rather than submitting the dispute to international arbitration. Those who criticised Labour as pacifists and fools should remember also that it was Labour which in 1938 and

1939 opposed Conservative j appeasement of dictators j and called for collective | security if arbitration' failed. Labour policy was the same today claimed the speaker. The Vietnam problem ' must be settled by international means through the Geneva Committee or the ,,United Nations. It would assist negotiations, and also make the condemnation of China's atomic tests more realistic, if China's diplomatic existence was to be recognised by New Zealand and the

U.S.A. , . and that country of almost 700,000,000 people admitted to the United Nations.