790.5/7–2354
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Officer in Charge of Commonwealth Affairs (Horsey)
Subject:
- Proposed South East Asia Collective Security Conference
Participants:
- Mr. G.R. Laking, Minister, New Zealand Embassy
- Mr. R. H. Wade, First Secretary, New Zealand Embassy
- Mr. MacArthur—C
- Mr. Galloway—C
- Mr. Horsey—BNA
Mr. Laking first commented that recent publicity on arrangements for the conference was most unfortunate, particularly since the British were still in the process of consulting the Colombo powers. Mr. MacArthur fully agreed, particularly since this puts us in a very difficult position with friends with whom we do not share so fully, as we have with such countries as New Zealand, our thinking on this subject.
On the place of the proposed conference, Mr. Laking said that New Zealand’s preference was for Washington because of the good facilities it gave them, although he saw some advantages in Baguio. Mr. MacArthur said we had not at all made up our minds but had simply put this forward as one suggestion to be considered amongst others. Mr. Laking also mentioned Singapore as a possibility. In any case, Mr. Laking said that his Government thought it was important not to make a decision on the place until we had the results of the British consultation with the Colombo powers.
Mr. Laking asked what our present thought was on including “Formosa”, Japan and the ROK. Mr. MacArthur said that there were powerful reasons for including them but that we recognized the great difficulties which this would cause elsewhere. He thought the pact should be openended, with the idea that they could ultimately join. Meanwhile, in order to avoid the question of who were the inviting powers and who the invited, the net result of our present consultations should perhaps be identical declarations in all of the capitals concerned, setting forth that the named governments had decided to hold a conference, etc. This would also avoid the bad result of having any governments which did not wish to attend being put in the position of having to set forth formally and officially their reasons for not doing so. On progress thus far, we had heard that the Indonesians declined, preferring to proceed with their policy of “active neutrality”. The Burmese likewise declined but in terms which held out hope that their situation might [Page 662] change within, say, a year. We had not heard the position of India and Pakistan but were leaving to the British the initiative in regard to consulting the Colombo powers.
Mr. Laking asked whether any thought was being given to organizing a North Asian collective defense group. Mr. MacArthur reviewed our various security arrangements in the area and said that bringing them together in such an organization might well be one possibility, having in mind that ultimately it could be meshed with the similar organization for South East Asia. However, we had not yet formed any definite views on this.
In conclusion Mr. MacArthur said we wished to keep in close touch with the New Zealand Embassy and would welcome comments and suggestions from them at any time as work in this field progressed.