Thailand ‘Heart Of S.-E. Asia’

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29956, 18 October 1962, Page 5

Thailand ‘Heart Of S.-E. Asia’

(N .Z.P.A.-Reuttr—Copyright) MELBOURNE, October 17. Air Marshal Sir Hector McGregor, New Zealand-born Commander-in-Chief of the Far East Air Force, said today that Thailand was the “heart” of South-east Asia.

He said the manner in which Australia, Britain, America and New Zealand moved to help Thailand when that country asked for help was tremendous. “Such a show must have a major effect on any ideas any outside nation might have about Thailand.” Indonesian Build-up Commenting on the introduction of Russian jets into the Indonesian Air Force and a general arms build-up in Indonesia, Sir Hector McGregor said that no-one would like to see such a build-up of arms. “It is a little disturbing to see arms being given to Indonesia, which have not appeared even in Communist China,” he said. However, he thought Indonesia was in the process of establishing herself as a major nation. He said reports that Indonesian pilots were being trained to fly these jets was one thing—it still would taka years before they became operational. “You want more than aircraft—you must have the whole weapons system with aU its controls,” he said. Sir Hector McGregor said that the Malayan emergency had given communism “a hell of a knock in that part of the world. “Communist influence should not be overrated,” he said.

Many people were inclined to label all malcontents striving to improve their position in a misguided way as Communists. "But I do not think that there is much direction

from either Peking or Moscow." Sir Hector McGregor said Singapore would continue to play a key role in the defence of South-east Asia. Reports that Britain was cutting down on numbers of the Royal Air Force were untrue—in fact, the reverse was the case.