SOUTH-EAST ASIA TREATY

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27875, 25 January 1956, Page 12

SOUTH-EAST ASIA TREATY

Visit By U.S. Pacific Commander

ORGANISATION’S WORK Admiral Felix B. Stump, U.S.N., the United States delegate to a conference of South-east Asia Treaty Organisation military advisers in Melbourne this month, arrived in Christchurch by private aeroplane yesterday from Australia. Admiral Stump, who is Commander-in-Chief of American Army, Navy, and Air Forces in the Pacific—a total force of 300,000 men, 500 ships and 2500 aircraft—was interviewed at his hotel but was reticent on concrete achievements and plans of the organisation. “Is SEATO anything more than just a paper organisation?” Admiral Stump was £sked.

‘‘We have had 14 meetings of military committees and staff planners and military advisers, and have met in every country of South-east Asia and the Pacific,” he replied. When pressed to elaborate he refused on the ground that “that is political.” “We have a different type of organisation,” Admiral Stump said in answer to a question on how SEATO compared with NATO. “What will come later on I do not know, but so far we have made plans for operating together and supporting each other in case of aggression. The situations are different.” In what way were the situations militarily different? was the next question.

“We do not care about telling the Russians,” Admiral Stump answered. “I think article IV of the treaty states that in case of aggresison on any one of the signing nations, and there are eight nations the other nations will consider that their own security is involved and will act in accordance with their constitutional powers. The word ‘act’ means just what it says. It is not passive.” New Zealand Contribution

What part could New Zealand play? he was asked.

“New Zealand has made a most enviable record in two world wars with her airmen, her seamen, and her soldiers,” he said. “The more New Zealand can contribute the better it will be for all of us, the better for the democratic world. We need all the strength we can get and New Zealand contributions are very important.”

When asked what more contributions the Dominion could make to play a better part in the organisation, Admiral Stump replied: “That is a political question. No comment.” What proportion would the United States military commitment to southeast Asia be to the commitments of the other nations combined?, was another question put to Admiral Stump. “I cannot tell the number of ground forces,” he said. “I am sure you could look that up. The United States has predominantly the largest navy.” Another questioner asked Admiral Stump what he thought of the situation in South-east Asia at the present time.

“Better than two years ago, wouldn’t you think?” Admiral Stump said. “On account of SEATO there is greater strength. There have been military meetings on many different phases discussing the potentialities and strength of forces. Militarily we are better off today than when they made the treaty. “Most of all the nations have an organisation which will act together to repel aggression from any point,” said the commander-in-chief of the Royal Pakistan Navy (Rear-Admiral H. M. S. Choudri), who .is travelling with Admiral Stump. “No country in the world can stand in isolation, not even the strongest. We are very happy we are now in SEATO.” Standardisation

Admiral Stump volunteered the information that meetings had been held “on standardisation, methods, equipment and communications,” but when asked to enlarge his remark and explain what equipment was considered should be standardised, and the extent to which member nations had gone in interlocking their military affairs, he commented: “Those are pretty technical questions. I know the answer to some of it, but I would not attempt to answer it off-hand. “All nations complement each other. We are building up in the United States to meet a world threat knowing that the only way to meet it is to be stronger than the enemy. The enemy will not be foolish enough to start a war if they think they will take a beating.

"Sir Anthony Eden said that there is peace in the world today because of the threat of the A-bomb and in all of our exercises today we take cognisance of the A weapon in the disposition of our forces.”

Asked what he had to say to a suggestion that the United States was “running” SEATO, Admiral Stump said vehemently: “That is not true, because each nation has a part of SEATO. “The treaty does not bestow any right or authority on one nation more than another. Nations always meet on terms of equality. In the international gatherings seating is even according to alphabet. If the statesmen could get along like the military advisers we would get along better any time, but you had better not tell that in Washington.”

Malaya and Formosa Asked for a statement on Formosa Admiral Stump replied: “I would rather the British military adviser would answer a question about Malaya. As far as Formosa is concerned we have a treaty with the Chinese Nationalists, and the President of the United States has announced we will defend Formosa. That is all there is to say about it.”

Admiral Stump, who was accompanied by his wife and a group of naval officers, last evening attended an informal dinner party at which the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr R. M. Macfarlane, M.P.) was present. This morning he will be taken for a motor drive, and after lunch will leave by air for Wellington, where he is to meet the Prime Minister (Mr Holland), the Minister of Defence (Mr T. L. Macdonald) and the heads of the armed services.

Admiral Choudri will travel with Admiral Stump to Pearl Harbour, and then will go to Washington, where he will meet the American chief of naval operations (Admiral Arleigh Burke) and inspect aspects of the United States military organisation. Earlier this month Admiral Choudri commanded Pakistan, British and American destroyers in joint exercises near Singapore.