DEFENCE OF ASIA

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27441, 30 August 1954, Page 11

DEFENCE OF ASIA

Attitude Of The Philippines

(Rec. 8.30 p.m.) NEW YORK. Aug. 28. The Philippines was making known to the United States her determination to obtain an agreement on a much stronger and militarily more effective treaty than was now contemplated j in draft pacts circulated among the nations that would confer in Manila on a South-east Asia defence arrangement, said a “New York Times” dispatch. The President, Mr Ramon Magsaysay, and Foreign Affairs officials had agreed to submit amendments to the present draft, substituting the wording identified with Article 5 of the North Atlantic Pact for the milder commitments in the present drafts. The latter contemplated only consultations and unilateral action conforming to each country’s constitutional processes, said the dispatch. Article fl of the N.A.T.O. pact considers an attack on one signatory an attack on all. The Philippines also objected to the inclusion of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia in the South-east Asia Treaty area as proposed by the French. Manila proposed the inclusion of the words ’’and freedom” wherever peace was mentioned. These and other minor changes were being submitted to Washington through the Philippines Minister, Mr Paul Leuterio. Reports that the Philippines was submitting its own separate draft treaty had been circulating in Manila, causing considerable confusion. - Actually such a draft was sent to Washington by Mr Carlos Garcia, VicePresident and Foreign Minister. But it did not have Mr Magsaysay’s approval and was repudiated. The Philippines was now submitting her suggested changes as amendments or formal proposals, which it sincerely hoped would prevail. It had been apparent tor some time that Mt Magsaysay and Mr Garcia did not see eye to eye on procedures regarding foreign affairs.