SUBVERSION IN ASIA

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28362, 22 August 1957, Page 8

SUBVERSION IN ASIA

Problem Facing S.E.A.T.O. (M.Z. Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, August 20. The first secretary-general of the South-east Asia Treaty Organisation (Mr Pote Sarasin) said in London today that S.EA.T.O. s biggest problem at the moment is Communist subversion. “We propose to counter that by exposure and publicity,” he told reporters. Mr Sarasin was addressing a press conference shortly after holding talks with the Foreign Secretary (Mr Selwyn Lloyd). Mr Sarasin said he did not for the time being expect any new recruits to 5.E.A.T.0., though they would certainly be welcome. The economic committee of the organisation, he said, did not overlap the Colombo Plan for the economic development of Asia, or any bilateral agreements which Asian countries had with other States. Nuclear Weapons Nuclear weapons will be available lot the defence of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation area, the British Defence Minister (Mr Duncan Saridys) said at Canberra. Addressing a press conference after two days of talks with Australian Cabinet Ministers, Mr Sandys said that Britain continued to regard S.E.A.T.O. as one of the crucial sectors of the free world’s defence front. Mr Sandys said that Britain would continue to maintain in the S.EA.T.O. area substantial land, sea and air forces—including, in due course, an element of nuclear power which would greatly increase their effectiveness.