U.S. DRAFT OF TREATY

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27443, 1 September 1954, Page 11

U.S. DRAFT OF TREATY

Text Published In Manila

(Rec. 11.30 pan.) z MANILA, Aug, 31 The American-owned newspaper, ‘‘Manila Bulletin” today published the full text of the American draft of an ANZUS-type SEATO agreement. The action was described by some mission members from the eight nations here, who are to begin studying the draft tomorrow, as “highly embarrassing.” The newspaper also claimed that “official circles” had yesterday admitted that Mr Dulles had ‘Ti inted broadly” that he would not attend the SEATO conference, which will open here on September 6, unless he was assured that the Philippines would not spring a surprise move that might embarrass the united States. The paper said: “The American threat to boycott the conference whipped the Philippine Government

S into line in support of a watered-down J collective security alliance of Southeast Asian nations." t 1 It said the Philippines had been tryi ing to redraft the American SEATO draft into a NATO-type agreement. 5 Mission members, who preferred not to be named, described the news--1 paper’s version of the American draft ■ as “pretty right” One said: “This will make things much more difficult. Now ■, the text is known it will be hard to f get amendments through. But I do > remind you that thia is only the Amej rican draft" Nine Articles i The published American draft cont tained nine articles fixing the treaty » area as the general area of South-east r Asia and the South-west Pacific, not . including the area north 0f.21 deg. 30mm north latitude (the Geneva line). It provided that each treaty party [would “act to meet the common danger in accordance with its constitutional processes” in the event of Communist aggression by means ot an armed attack. It included Cambodia. Laos, and the territory under the jurisdiction of the free Vietnamese Government. The "fait accompli” publication of the text here was expected to be viewed most seriously by missions arriving from Australia, New Zealand, Siam, the Philippines, and Pakistan, who are understood to be Dressing for ; a treaty with more “teeth.” ( The teift provided for the establish- . ment of a SEATO council to consider , matters concerning the implementation • of the treaty and empowered the coun- . cil to arrange with States not parties to the treaty for co-operation in giving ; effect to the promotion of economic ■ stability and social well-being. ’ The draft said the treaty would r*1 main in force indefinitely. The treaty parties would settle in- ’ ternational disputes in which they • were involved bv peaceful means, and - pledge through self-heln and mutual • aid to maintain and develop their in- ■ dividual and collective capacity to re- > sist armed attack and prevent and ' overcome subversive activities directed • from without against their territorial and political stability.