MEANING OF S.E.A.T.O.

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28532, 11 March 1958, Page 13

MEANING OF S.E.A.T.O.

“Military Power Not Needed”

(Rec. 9.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, March 10. There was something fantastic in the contrast between the military strength available to the South-East Asia Treaty Organisation, a small and dispersed force, and the outcries that were produced in Moscow by any attempt to defend and befriend the underdeveloped nations of South-East Asia, the “New York Times” said today. In a leading article commenting on the Soviet Union’s statement calling for the replacement of SUA.T.O. with a non-military “collective security” system, the “New York Times” said there might come a time when the Soviet Union’s present-day policies would seem more humorous than tragic. “But we can’t laugh long or loudly today,” it said, “for we have to bear in mind what the Muscovite corner boys do to nations, such as the Baltic States and Hungary, that come undefended and defiant into their power.” But, the “New York Times” continued, the real meaning of the Manila meeting was not warlike. “What Asia needs is not military power, but more and better food, sanitation, medical care, education and hope,” it said. The city of Manila, where the conference is meeting, is itself an object lesson in what Western civilisation can do to make life better, more comfortable and more interesting. ‘The shoddy goods of Moscow have small market there, nor need they have a market elsewhere in non-Communist Asia if we and other Western nations do our part. That is what S.E.A.T.O. ought to signify.” BARRICADED IN HOTEL Former Owner's Defiance (Rec. 11.18 p.m.) CANNES, March 10. A wealthy former- Australian lheep farmer, aged 76, has barricaded himself in a condemned Cannes waterfront hotel, defying Workmen who are tearing it down, reported the American Associated Press. He is Mr John Crawford, who retired to Cannes from his sheep station 25 years ago said the agency. He used to own the 400roomed Grand Hotel, where, according to local tradition, five reigning kings once ate at the same time. Several months ago he sold the hotel for £BOO,OOO, and reserved one of the apartments in the new block which is to be built on the site, said the agency. Mr Crawford stipulated that he wanted to be lodged in six rooms of the plush Carlton Hotel—at the expense of the group which bought his building—until his new apartment is ready. Salvage crews moved in and started tearing away the plumbmg, woodwork and marble. Mr Carlton was quite happy until he learned that the new owners planned to move him to a small apartment instead of the Carlton Hotel. He barricaded himself in the Grand Hotel, bought a big watchdog, and put up “Beware of the Hog” signs. When the salvage crews leave a t night he is free to eat and Walk in the spacious gardens. One of the new owners of the notel, Mr Pau] Augier, said: “It’s Wore funny than serious. I think ” will work itself out soon.”

The Foreign Ministers Conference will open tomorrow. The Foreign Secretary of the Philippines, Mr Felix Berto Serrano, said the Soviet denunciation was another attempt to intimidate and weaken the alliance. Mr R. G. Casey, of Australia, and the Prime Minister of New Zealand (Mr Nash) ridiculed the Russian call for an atomic-free zone and a system of collective security in Asia and the Far East. Mr Pote Sarasin, of Thailand, the Secretary - General of 5.E.A.T.0., met Mr Casey and Mr Nash at the airport. He said the Russian attack was nothing new. “It usually comes each year. I expected it earlier.” The American Associated Press report said the British Foreign Secretary (Mr Selwyn Lloyd) had told reporters on his arrival that he wanted discussions with the United States Secretary of State (Mr Dulles) and the French Foreign Minister (Mr Pineau) on a summit conference with the Russians, the Indonesian revolution “and a great many other problems.” MR NASH’S VIEWS Principles Of Treaty •/ (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 7 p.m.) MANILA, March 10. No freedom loving State could complain about the methods or principles of the South-east Asia Treaty Organisation, the New Zealand Prime Minister (Mr Nash) said today. He was commenting on the Soviet criticism of S.E.A.T.O. “S.E.A.T.O. was set up by free and independent Governments to defend each other from outside aggression and subversion. There is nothing more to it than that,” Mr Nash said. New Zealand policy for the S.E.A.T.O. council meeting would follow closely the original phrasing of the treaty, he said. New Zealand is believed likely to stress the right of individual peoples to select or change their method of Government, providing such measures stem from a national source and are not guided by overseas interests. Although the Indonesian issue is not on the council agenda and will probably not be discussed there, it is a certain topic for private discussions. Discussions On Singapore (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) SINGAPORE, March 10. The former Chief Minister of Singapore, Mr David Marshall, said today that he had discussed Singapore’s future as a military base with the New Zealand Prime Minister (Mr Nash), during his stay in Singapore. He said Mr Nash had promised him that if the use of Singapore as a base would harm the people, he would reconsider his own stand on the matter. Mr Marshall was addressing two newly-formed branches of the Workers’ Party. Trade Expansion In Empire BURTON-ON-TRENT, March 9. Mr Patrick Maitland, a Conservative member of Parliament, called today for an expansion of trade with the Commonwealth. Britain’s object should be to do everything to develop trade with the Commonwealth, because “every other job in Britain depends directly or indirectly on the Commonwealth. “If the Commonwealth folded up these islands would be depopulated as quickly as Ireland was in the last century,” he said.