UN General Assembly
1959

31. South-East Asia is the region adjacent to Australia. We have close relations with all the countries of South-East Asia and we have a direct concern with their welfare, progress, and security. Australia is a member of many regional arrangements linking us in common endeavour with these countries. For example, early this year the fifteenth session of ECAFE was held in Australia. Then, in November, I shall be going to Djokjakarta in Indonesia for the annual meeting of countries members of the Colombo Plan. I mention these as examples of the degree of fruitful and continuous partnership existing between Australia and its neighbours. 32. In the political sphere we record our satisfaction at the success achieved by the Secretary-General in his efforts to ease difficulties that had arisen between Thailand and Cambodia. This was a good example of the quiet constructive work that can be done through the United Nations, and it should not pass unnoticed merely because it was done in private and not in public.