1951-01-03 — Page 3

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1951.

EMPIRE DEFENCE PLANS CONGRESS

Despatch Of Troops To Middle East

British Proposal For HK Defence Commitments

London, Jan. 2.

Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are likely to be asked to speed up plans for sending forces to the Middle East in the event of war, it was learned here today from a usually reliable source.

This is one of the several defence questions expected to be brought up at the meeting of the Commonwealth Prime Ministers which opens here on Thursday.

South Africa has already promised a substantial contribution to the defence of this area in the event of a war.

Though they have

the Prime Minister of Pakistan, would attend the talks. The latest reports from Karachi, said that Mr Liaquat All Khan had not altered his stand that his country and India should be dispute between

put on the agenda. Government

In the view of the British

inter -

Dominion

the Kashmir

tively with the Kashmir problem to see what they could do.

In the interview, which was

BATTLE

EXPECTED

Washington, Jan. 2. The 82nd United States released generally here tonight, Congress will mest for the Mr Liaquat All Khan said, "I first time tomorrow to face have felt and I feel that unless a momentous debat

the conference deals also with

the Kashmir problem I could foreign policy and plans am too busy to go to London on strength of make no useful contribution. T to build up the

a holiday Jaunt.”

Allies.

Mr Liaquat Ali Khan charged the United Nations with "tin-

overseas

Despite reduced majorities in

kering" with the Kashmir prob- both Houses of Representatives blame for the United Nations' tration Democrats are confident lem and put a big share of the and the Senate, the Adminis

failure to settle the Kashmir that the new Congress will back dispute on Britain and the President Truman in most United States.

major foreign policy adminis- Mr Liaquat Ali Khan said, | tration. "In mid-December I got in-

that formation the Security Kashmir question until the lat- Council would not take up the

The recent speech by Mr Herbert Hoover, advocating former Republican President,

American

concentration

Western hemisphere defer expected to set off a farce

separate Commonwealth board disputes are, by convention, not until after the Commonwealth foreign policy fight"

or committee to be set up.

as yet, North Atlantic Treaty Organi made no definite commitments, sation and the Organisation for it is believed that' Australia and European Economic

Co- New Zealand will be willing operation, but some Common- to share in Middle East defence wealth countries would prefer a as they did in the last war.

Britain would. like to see Commonwealth forces. in the Middle East even in peacetime, but realises the difficulties this would present to the Common wealth countries with their small populations and the con- tribution they are already making in Korea.

here is that these two ideas The feeling in official circles need not confuse the main issue, as if the Commonwealth Prime Ministers are persuaded of the need for more rearmament their Prime Ministers will discuss its implications on their present policies,

Even if it is not possible for the Commonwealth countries to send forces abroad in peacetime South Africa is likely to bring they will be asked to have them up one of her defence worries organised ready to reach

the the present unsatisfactory state Middle East with the least pos- of communications throughout sible delay if war becomes im- Africa, She has already had dis- cussions with France and Por- tugal about this.

minent.

Canada has never before sent troops to the Middle East. It is believed an attempt may be made to encourage her to play a part in that area though it is felt here that she will be re- luctant to agree,

DEFENCE OF H.K. Britain would like to see Australia and New Zealand take over

some of her com- mitments in Malaya and Hong- kong. But proposals in this direction are not so far advanced as the Middle East plans.

The pooling of raw materials will probably be put before the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference. Britain would like this to be arranged through the

Another matter which may be raised is Commonwealth stan- dardisation of

equipment. Canada, for instance, is inclined to "tool up" on the United States type of equipment, Some

other Commonwealth. nations would prefer to concentrate more on the British pattern..

PAKISTAN PREMIER

The British Cabinet, with the Defence Chiefs present part of the time, met today to discuss the final arrangements for the Prime Ministers' Conference.

shock.

ter part of January that the United States and United King- dom did not want it brought up placed on the agenda of the conference. ces. full sessions of such conferen

That gave me a

A conservative, "isolationist” bloc of Republicans in Congress It is known that the Prime

"Pakistan's people feel that is supporting Mr Hoover's ideas Minister, Mr Clement Attlee, the United States is not really which have already come under is

consideration extremely anxious to see giving that

to attack by Democrat spokesmen. progress towards a settlement Pakistan's case that it should, of the Kashmir issue.

Pakistan ands the scales al-

Informed quarters here sug-ways weighed in favour of In- gested that he might take an dia in spite of the fact that early opportunity of consulting justice is on our side." the other Commonwealth Prime He was convinced that the Ministers to see if they could United Nations could, if it find a solution to the impasse would, settle the Kashmir dis- arising out of Pakistan's attitude pute by ordering a plebiscite, towards the conference.

putting its own interpretation on the Kashmir resolution and applying pressure on all parties carry out their concerned to obligations.

All of the principal conference statesmen,

except Mr Nehru, and Mr Liaquat Ali Khan, have now reached London.

The latest arrivals tonight were Mr Robert G. Menzies, the Prime Minister of Australia, and Mr Sidney Holland, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, who travelled together from Rome ́in the same aircraft.

...

Mr Nehru was due here by air from India tomorrow night.

-Reuter.

KARACHI SECRECY

Karachi, Jan. 2.

The Pakistan Prime Minis- The British Government was ställ

ter, Mr Liaquat Ali Khan, without news whether Mr Liaquat Ali Khan, today, the deadline for depar- today does not plan to fly to London

ture in time to reach London in time for the opening of the Commonwealth Prime Minis-

IT JUST TAKES PRACTICE Bored with tiresome

pastimes like high-diving and water polo,

Marlin and George Wayne indulge In

stunts to while away the time.

They

as it looks, provided the girl is ligh chap" remember 10

olore

ters Conference, an authorita- tive source here disclosed.

He felt that such a course would produce the desired re- sults without the necessity of military action Reuter,

CONTROL

PLANS A

FLOP

Washington, Jan. 2. The Economic Stabilisation Administration reported today that the Government's voluntary price control programme was making little progress.

Only a small number of the The strictest official secrecy still veils the Prime Minister's reduced their prices to the Dec. nation's biggest concerns had

intentions towards the Con- ference, and it is felt to in- chicate that a final decision his attendance has mot yet been made.

on

1 levels or had agreed to give advance warning when new price increases were planned.

Senator John Sparkman (Democrat) warned, in the There is some speculation meantime, that the Govern- here on whether the opening ment's system of allocating of the conference, due on scarce materials may be forcing Thursday, may be postponed some small businessmen to re- pending a decision by Mr sort to "gray or black Liaquat Ali Khan, which may kets". depend on a further communi- cation from London.-Reuter.

NEHRU'S PROGRAMME

London, Jan. 2. The Indian Prime Minister, Mr Jawaharlal Nehru, will have a crowded programme from the moment he arrives at London Airport tomorrow.

In addition to the daily meet- ings of the Commonwealth Con- ference, his social engagements will range from a Buckingham Palace luncheon and receptions held by Mr Clement Attlee and the various Commonwealth High Commissioners in London to a party at India House for Indian students and a soiree arranged by the India League. S

On Jan, 12 Mr Nehru is to open a new India club in Craven Street, an old and narrow

mar-

The stabilisation -agency followed up its price roll-back request of two weeks ago by asking 250 of the largest com- panies to give at least seven days notice of any prospective price increase. So far 50 had promised to do so.

At least one company has increased the price of its shirts, blaming rising cloth prices.- United Press.

Queen's

"SHOWING TO-DAY At 2.30, 5.15, 7.20 & 9.30 p.m.

London thoroughfare which BURT LANCASTER-VIRGINIA MAYO

runs down from the Strand, at its junction with Trafalgar Square, to the Thames Embank- ment. Reuter.

PAKISTAN VIEWS

Karachi II 2.

Lister, Mr.

Pakistan's Fr

Laaqunt All Khan told the

York Har

It is believed that under the pressure of the vast defeice plans, the new Congress will be inclined to cut foreign économic aid programmes like the Mar. shall Plan

Democrats are also pessimistic

about the prospects of much of

the "Fair Deal" domestic pro- gramme which had a rough handling in the last Congress where the Democrats had a larger majority,

Their Senate majority has been out from 12 to two and their House majority from 93 ta. 36. -

The 81st Congress adjourned tonight when the House rose, The Senate had risen earlier. - Reuter.

ROXV

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