S.E.A.T.O. Treaty

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31276, 24 January 1967, Page 12

S.E.A.T.O. Treaty

Sir,—Mr Lake’s attempt to use S.E.A.T.O. to justify sending troops to Vietnam makes it clear that the S.E.A.T.O. Powers, as such, have not decided to send troops. Rather, the Government has decided for itself that it is obliged under the S.E.A.T.O. Treaty, on the grounds that South Vietnam is the victim of aggression from North Vietnam and that the S.E.A.T.O. Treaty calls for aid under those conditions. But this means, in effect, that Mr Lake’s statement demonstrates > the irrelevance of the S.E.A.T.O. Treaty to the main debate between the Government and its critics. For the chief bone of contention is precisely whether North Vietnam is clearly guilty of aggression against the South or whether the situation is actually the reverse or at least mixed. Since S.E.A.T.O. applies only if the Government is right in this debate, for the Government to cite S.E.A.T.O. is merely to say that it believes its own case—that it agrees with itself, which is hardly surprising.—Yours, etc., J. R. FLYNN. December 16, 1966. [This letter was referred to the Minister of Finance (Mr Lake), but no comment has been received.]