The Rotary Balita no. 798 (June 7, 1956)

The "unparalleled" opportunity that the Philippines has - in serving as a bridge of understanding between East and West - was stressed last week by Australian Ambassador Keith C. O. Shann in his speech before Manila Rotarians at the Manila Hotel on May 24. Speaking of the Philippines as a "vital link" in this period of the historical upsurge of Asian nationalism, in preventing enmity and ill-will through the sympathetic interpretation of the motives and aspirations of each to the other, Shann explained that the country can very well be the "interpreter" of the West to Asia, and of Asia to the West. "The Filipino," the Australian envoy continued, "can often understand Asia in ways which we cannot. His country is accepted in Asia where often, for reasons of colonial history, basically European countries are not." Expressing optimism over the prospects of increased volume of commerce and trade between the two countries, Shann analyzed the type of economy prevailing in both the Philippines and Australia, and concluded that trade between the two peoples is largely complementary and not competitive. Ambassador Shann suggested that both countries could hurdle their mutual foreign exchange problems by encouraging a greater interchange of products that would require the least foreign exchange or which could be imported at the lowest price possible. The Rotarians also heard their diplomat-guest speaker aver that the Filipinos could count on Australia's support in maintaining security in this part. of the world, and on its cooperation in resisting communist aggression-through-subversion.