NZ Shortsighted

The Senator finished up by pointing out the short-sightedness of small countries (for example, New Zealand) who are "much too reluctant to express themselves in major policy matters."

He said they do not wish to influence the great powers who have the burden of administering the policy. This was an understandable attitude, he said, but a self-derogatory one and slightly irresponsible.

Several days after Fulbright's speech, an inquiry to one of the newspapers was made, asking why it was that a representative of the State Department put forward such a different view from External Affairs.

Our Prime Minister replied that the Senator's address very well expressed New Zealand's policy and differed in no way at all.

Such a statement seemed odd after the combined efforts of Australian and New Zealand conference delegates to malign China. They blamed the instability in South East Asia on the compulsive and maliciously aggressive actions of this nation.

Sadly, it would seem that the rulers of the South Pacific will be the last to affirm China's admission to the United Nations.