Bowden Says East of Suez Policy Goes on

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from a special correspondent. Britain will always maintain sufficient forces in the Pacific area to fulfil all her commitments, Mr. Herbert Bowden, the Commonwealth Secretary, told a Press conference in Melbourne on February 20th. Mr. Bowden was closely questioned on the second day of his 10-day Australian tour about Britain's East of Suez defensive role. Asked what guarantees Britain could give her Pacific allies from a defence and moral point of view following the withdrawal of troops East of Suez, Mr. Bowden said that the British Government would take no steps which could in any way be regarded as going back on its commitment in the area. Mr. Bowden said Britain was in close consultation with the Australian and New Zealand Governments on Pacific defence. Talks were being held on a "British fall-back position" - a base somewhere in Australia. Asked if this would be an expensive move, Mr. Bowden said it would all depend on the size of force kept in Singapore.