E.A.T.O. Advisers Welcome Battalion

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30739, 1 May 1965, Page 15

E.A.T.O. Advisers Welcome Battalion

f-V.Z.P.A.- Reuter—Copyright)

LONDON, April 29. ” Australia’s decision to take a fighting stand against Kmmunist aggression in the Vietnam war received Kong support at the opening sessions of the South-East Kia Treaty Organisation military advisers’ conference I London today. The military chiefs “warmly welcomed” announcements ■om Canberra that the 800-strong Ist Battalion Royal AustraKn Infantry would go into service in South Vietnam, informed ■urces said.

■ Members of the ■ nited States mission ■n particular were ‘pleased” that Ausralia had decided to jack-up its recent dedges of support for American policy in the irea. “Delegates were in full greement with Sir Robert lenzies that the battalion is le most useful additional ontribution Australia can lake to defence of the region t this stage,” the sources aid. The leader of the Ausralian mission, Air Marshal >ir Frederick Scherger, was understood to have outlined plans for dispatching and deploying the Australian troops. They would probably be placed under United States command and based near the North Vietnam border. As experts in jungle warfare they would play a leading role in the campaign against Communist Viet Cong guerrillas. New’ Zealand’s decision not to send forces to join the Australians is believed to have been received with disapoointment by some of the S.E.A.T.O. military advisers. These advisers acknowledged, however, that New Zealand was keeping a close watch on the Vietnam situation and that her troops could

be sent there in a combatant role at any time. Vietnam is believed to have dominated today’s opening session held under strict security conditions at Lancaster House, the former palatial home of the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland, not far from Buckingham Palace. The two-day military advisers conference is a forerunner to the S.E.A.T.O. Ministerial conference opening at nearby Marlborough House on Monday for three days. Sir Frederick Scherger is believed today to have also expressed the Australian Government’s concern over the entry of North Vietnamese propaganda material into Australia. The External Affairs Minister (Mr Paul Hasluck) who heads Australia’s mission to the forthcoming S.E.A.T.O. Ministerial talks, said in Canberra recently that propaganda photographs were misleading Australians about the Communist role in the Vietnam war.

This point was believed to have been raised again by the military advisers during dis-

cussions on North Vietnamese sabotage and propaganda tactics. The military chiefs were also understood to have discussed proposals for joint military action by the S.E.A.T.O. powers in Vietnam. Five of the eight nations in the defence alliance are already committed in varying degrees—Australia. New Zealand, the United States, Thailand and the Philippines. Informed sources said joint military action by S.E.A.T.O. would be governed by a request for such action by the South Vietnamese Government, but there was no such request before the conference. Australia, New Zealand, the United States and other S.E.A.T.O. nations already involved in Vietnam are believed to be strong supporters of joint action. Pakistan is understood to be reluctant to support the proposal on the grounds that it might only aggravate the situation and also because Pakistan’s forces have sufficient commitments at home in the border dispute with India.