LINKS WITH OTHER PACTS

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28536, 15 March 1958, Page 13

LINKS WITH OTHER PACTS

“Bad Mistake” By S.E.A.T.O.

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, Mar. 14. The “News Chronicle” today criticised the attempt of the South-east Asia Treaty Organisation to forge closer links with the Bagdad Pact and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. “The S.E.A.T.O. conference tin Manila], which ended yesterday, very sensibly laid emphasis on the economic, political, and cultural activities of communism in Southeast Asia,” said the “News Chronicle.” “The accent of danger has shifted to the nbn-military field. Then why did the conference have to call for closer links With N.A.T.O. and the Bagdad Pact? “This part or the communique is a bad psychological mistake,” said the newspaper. “Military dangers axist in South-east Asia, but the real problem is subversion —largel. fed on poverty, and fattening on fear. This problem will never be solved 1 by pushing these countries towards more and more military alignments.” “The Times” said that S.E.A.T.O. had a part to play in the future if it remains flexible. “The suspicion that political changes in South-east Asia have been scarcely affected by the signature of the South-east Asia collective defence treaty at Manila in 1954 deepens each year. “Earned Some Credit” “S.E.A.T.O. has, however, earned some credit, even though it can be measured only in a negative way. In 1954 the treaty plainly frightened more countries in the area than it reassured; now it frightens none,” said “The Times.” “It means simply that Communist allegations that such pacts are aggressive in intent are no longer believed. "Provided it remains flexible, S.E.A.T.O. has a part to play in the future. One valuable purpose served has been the official association of Australia and New Zealand with an area in which their interests have been fast expanding since the war. “Annual communiques filled with references to ‘seminars on countering subversion’ or ‘bilateral cultural exchanges’ make sense if it is realised that throughout its history South-east Asia has always been open to outside influence and that it is for the new South-east Asia, to choose whence that influence will come. “If S.E.A.T.O. can see itself as a trustee for the West, the time may come when its influence can expand, and that may be the time to put it on new foundations,” “The Times” said. MR NASH IN HONG KONG (Rec. 12.15 a.m.) / HONG KONG, March 14. The New Zealand Prime Minister, Mr Nash, said today that Indonesia’s problems should be settled by the Indonesians themselves. Speaking at a conference after his arrival from the S.E.A.T.O conference in Manila, he said: “I do not think anybody outside should interfere. It is an internal affair.’* Asked whether S.E.A.T.O. nations should provide their own troops like the N.A.T.O. countries did, Mr Nash said he did nut think so. He had heard nothing of a report that Japan, Formosa, and South Vietnam would join 5.E.A.T.0., he said. Mr Nash, who is staying as a guest of the Governor until Monday, will have general talks with local trade and commerce officials on the effect which New Zealand’s import restrictions are expected to have on the colony’s trade. He said that his Government was not contemplating further restrictions on Hong Kong’s exports at present.

“Interference” In South Vietnam (Rec. 12.15 a.m.) MOSCOW, March 14. The Soviet Government warned the United States last night that it was endangering the peace in South-east Asia by arming South Vietnam and including it in the zone of operations of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation, according to the American Associated Press. The agency said the official statement, issued by Tass, the Soviet news agency, said that interference in the affairs of South Vietnam was aimed primarily at converting the country into a bridgehead for aggression against the Communist North Vietminh Republic and Communist China.