S.E.A.T.O. Advisers See Need For Vigilance

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30575, 19 October 1964, Page 11

S.E.A.T.O. Advisers See Need For Vigilance

(N.Z.P^.-Reuter —Copyright?

BANGKOK, Oct 15. Military advisers of the South-east Asia Treaty Organisation (S.EJLT.O.) emphasised in their final communique today that “constant vigilance and defence readiness are essential to the preservation of the independence of the member countries.” The communique was issued at the end of the twoday twenty-first military advisers’ conference. According to the communique, the advisers discussed “problems affecting the security of the treaty area and the progress made by the organisation in military planning.” The communique noted during the last decade S.EA.T.O. had conducted 27 types of joint exercises which

had provided invaluable training to the land, sea and air forces of the participating countries. The meeting had adopted a two-year exercise schedule covering 1965-67 and agreed on a forecast of further exercises. Answering reporters’ questions, the United States Admiral, Ulysses S. Grant Sharp, who was chairman at the conference, said the advisers did not discuss the Malaysia dispute and its repercussions among S.E.A.T.O. members. He denied that the meeting had discussed increased military assistance to South Vietnam. The meeting had talked about strengthening the southern Philippines area, which is subject to Conununlist infiltration, he said.