Decision Soon On Token Forces For Thailand

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29829, 23 May 1962, Page 13

Decision Soon On Token Forces For Thailand

(N .Z J 3 .A.-Reuter—Copyright)

BANGKOK, May 22. Thailand’s Foreign Minister (Thanat Khoman) said today agreement would be reached “in the near future” with three or four more South-East Asia Treaty Organisation countries to send military contingents to Thailand, it was reported from Bangkok.

He refused to name these countries, but it was believed they included Australia, New Zealand, Britain, and possibly the Philippines. Mr Thanat told questioners at a press conference that he thought these contingents would remain under their national commands rather than coming under the United States command already established here. When asked whether these

forces would be token ones or of substantial strength he said: “We anticipate the forces of some other countries will be smaller than those of the United States. “But token forces can be very useful in an emergency and are not just a toy to play with. They can be added to later if necessary " Mr Thanat said the effect of the United States forces already in Thailand could be gauged from the “comparative quiet in the neighbour-

ing country (Laos) since their arrival.” The Foreign Minister said the contingents of other S.E.A.T.O. countries would be arranged under bilateral agreements with the countries concerned and they would not constitute a S.E.A.T.O. force. Asked whether he contemplated that there might be a standing S.EAT.O force later, he said he did not anticipate there would be such a force as built up by N.A.T.O “The most important thing is td have the means, determination, solidarity and unity to join together to repel aggression,” he said. Mr Thanat said he presumed that announcements concerning the sending of further contingents to Thailand “will be made shortly.” Mr Thanat said' he had been asked how long the American forces would remain in Thailand and whether they would be increased. This depended on the circumstances. If the threat to Thailand disappeared and the American troops had completed their duties they would be withdrawn.

Sources close to the Thai Foreign Ministry said today the Australian. New Zealand and Pakistan Ambassadors and the British Charge d'Affaires yesterday called on the Foreign Minister. Diplomatic sources said today it was believed the Australian and New Zealand offers to send contingents had been agreed to in principle, but details of the composition and nature of the forces and the timing of their arrival still had to be worked out. The British offer to make available a squadron of the Royal Air Force from Tengah. Singapore, was believed to be still under consideration and a decision was thought likely at a Cabinet meeting scheduled for this morning.