S.E.A.T.O. Head Outlines Aims, Hopes

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30559, 30 September 1964, Page 28

S.E.A.T.O. Head Outlines Aims, Hopes

By accepting an agreement with China 1 over border problems had Pakistan acted con-* ; trary to the Manila Treaty? The Secretary- | General of the South-east Asia Treaty Or- j ganisation (Mr Konthi Suphamongkhon) told a luncheon meeting of the Christcnurch Businessmen’s Association that that was one of j the questions he had been asked on his trip to member nations.

“I have given my answer that this is actually one of the means by which members of our organisation are trying to settle our problems as they exist between nations—peaceful means,” he said. “If Pakistan can succeed in its border problems by peaceful means and by negotiations it is all for the good. “I don’t really see any opposition or incompatibility with Pakistan trying to settle her problems with China and Pakistan’s commitment under our treaty.”

Many people wondered, he said, why 5.E.A.T.0., having been born out of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, did not have a series of high commands with armed forces areas marked out. The answer was very simple. In the case of N.A.T.O. each country was contiguous. Forces could be set up to check any advance of the Communists in Europe. But in the case of 5.E.A.T.0., he said, no two member countries had a common frontier. It was impossible to set up a chain of commands of armed forces among members of S.E.A.T.O. “Purely Defensive”

Mr Konthi said that S.E.A.T.O. tried to make the place purely defensive to meet any exigency that might arise. He appealed to members of the association to assist promoting closer economic cooperation between the S.E.A.T.O. member nations. By paying close attention to the social and economic welfare of the lesser developed nations, he said, the Communists could be stopped from “coming in the backdoor.” Communists, he said, who traded on unhappiness, of others, would have much of their subversive activities countered, if the welfare of the people in the target countries was high. “My duty is to try to promote closer economic and social co-operation among * members.” he said. The member nations of 5.E.A.T.0., said Mr Konthi, were five in the area—Australia. New Zealand. Pakistan, the Philippines, and Thailand. J and three others, the United Kingdom, the United States, and France. Malaysia The Malaysian situation had not come to the position (where it would warrant anyaction from the South-East ( Asia Treaty Organisation, Mr j Konthi said in an interview in Christchurch yesterday. “The situation is serious,” he said. “But I don’t like to use the word ‘critical’.” While there were still efforts from so many sources 1 to help solve the Malaysian situation peacefully there 1 could be hope that the problem would be settled peace- ’ fully, said Mr Konthi. The destination of small nations in the S.E.A.T.O. ' area, he said, depended to a certain extent on the help 1 and assistance of the United States. “The potential of the United ! States is enormous, not only 1 as a nuclear shield, but " socially, f economically and ’ militarily,” he said. Criticism levelled at (■ S.E.A.T.O; that it was a “paper tiger” was not valid, i said Mr Konthi. “I hope a that the people who say it ■- believe it,” he said, s Bilateral agreements that i- the Americans had made with a South-east Asian Treaty Organisation members, he '■ said, had not weakened the ’• effect or the treaty organr isation. Such agreements e were complementary rather ’’ than contrary. Peace Mission The suggestion by the ; speaker of the Philippines ;• House of Representatives (Mr v Cornelio T. Villareal) that a 1- multi-nation peace mission from S.E.A.T.O. countries

should be launched to combat communism and subversion in Laos nd South Vietnam, was generally in line with what he had in mind, said Mr Konthi.

“S.E.A.T.O, as a regional organisation in South-east Asia, should develop more activities in the social and economic fields,” he said. “Whether Mr Villareal’s proposal to send medical teams into Laos and South Vietnam is possible, depends on the SzE.A.T.O. member nations. Members could undertake to do that.” Mr Konthi said Mr Villareal’s proposal could be expanded to incorporate social and economic development in the areas. In New Zealand, said Mr Konthi, he would have talks with Government leaders and would be delighted to discuss any particular problems. “My present trip here is part of an over-all visit to member states of our organisation,” he said. “I took up this position of SecretaryGeneral, in February.

i He said S.E.A.T.O. could do much to halt Communist (expansion by promoting economic and social developI ment. | “1 feel personally that the (members can help each other,”! jhe said. ■ South Vietnam, as stated in! (the Manila Treaty, said Mr: (Konthi, was entitled to the! (protection of S E.A.T.O. only: (if it was requested. “So far I (there has been no such re-( (quest," he said. ( Buddhists in South Viet-j main seemed to have a grievance against their Govern-! bent, he said. But Buddhists; in Thailand did not involve! themselves politically- “I think that if religious elements can be divorced from! political involvement, the' better it will be,” said( Mr Konthi. Dancing Banned So much damage has been done to the floor of Masterton’s War Memorial Stadium by dancers with stiletto heels that dancing by adults will no longer, be permitted there, the Masterton Borough Council has decided. Cr. T. H. Hullena said many people enjoyed dances at the stadium and the offending heels could ■be banned. Cr. W. Van (Praagh said the matter was : more serious than people i realised. If the dancing was ■ allowed to continue, the coun- : cil would soon be faced with ■ the cost of a new floor, he said.