S.E.A.T.O. TALKS Europe Criticised; New Peace Call

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31349, 20 April 1967, Page 15

S.E.A.T.O. TALKS Europe Criticised; New Peace Call

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter— Copyright)

WASHINGTON, April 18.

The S.EA.T.O. council meeting opened today with ringing endorsements of the war effort in Vietnam, a renewed call to Hanoi to enter peace talks and criticism of some nations unwilling to accept their responsibilities in the area.

The main targets of criticism appeared to be France, which boycotted the foreign ministers’ session, and Pakistan, which was represented only by its Ambassador in Washington.

But Britain also came in for a jab from the Australian External Affairs Minister, Mr Paul Hasluck. Mr Hasluck said Western European nations lacked interest in Asia and were displaying “isolation in its most reckless form.” Mr Hasluck did not call for British troop contributions to Vietnam, but said it was a necessity for Britain to maintain its long-standing responsibilities in Asia. Stinging Rebuke Mr Thanat Khoman, Thailand’s Foreign Minister, did not mention France and Pakistan by name, but clearly gave both a stinging rebuke. He said S.EA.T.O. had two categories of members—the fully active ones and the selective ones—and the latter wished to enjoy membership privileges without supporting the organisation’s actions for collective defence. “It has become a harrowing situation that there could be some who seek to derive only advantages from membership of this organisation without accepting the corresponding obligations and responsibilities,” Mr Thanat said.

He said that sooner or later S.E.A.T.O. would probably have to face up to the crucial question of how an organisation based on unequal rights and obligations could continue to function adequately. British View

The British Foreign Secretary, Mr George Brown, reiterated his Government’s view that it should not send troops to Vietnam and could make a greater contribution outside the military field. Britain is cochairman of the 1954 Geneva Conference on IndoChina, along with the Soviet Union. But Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand and the Philippines all voiced support for United States policy in Vietnam and several ministers emphasised that it was the Communist side which constantly rebuffed allied peace initiatives. The United States Secretary of State, Mr Dean Rusk, departed from his prepared welcoming address to issue a new call on North Vietnam to come to the conference table.

He said the United States was prepared for private talks if necessary, and added: “Once again we urge Hanoi to make use of some machinery or some diplomatic process—and there are many

opportunities —to engage seriously in a discussion which could lead towards peace.” Mr Rusk began by reaffirming United States determination to block Hanoi’s “aggression” against South Vietnam.

At the same time, he said that although Hanoi had rebuffed every effort to bring the war to a close, "we shall continue unceasingly the search for a peaceful settlement

“Eventually, Hanoi must realise that it will not be permitted to conquer South Vietnam,” he said. Pakistan Concern Mir Aghan Hllaly, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United states, said the Vietnam war was interfering with his country’s efforts to improve its economy and raising the living standards of its people. Mr Hilaiy said Pakistan “viewed with grave concern the continuance and the intensification of the war in Asia with the ever-present danger that it may lead to a conflagration of much more serious dimensions.” He added: “We in Pakistan are engaged in the economic development of our resources as a means of raising the standard of living of our people. “For this vast undertaking, peace and tranquility are

essential, as well as co-opera-tion among the countries of the region.” The New Zealand Prime Minister, Mr Holyoake, told the S.EA.T.O. council that the problem of bringing peace to Vietnam would rightly be the focal point of its deliberations. However, he did not think any striking new formula would emerge from the meeting to bring about peace overnight He said men in every free land owed to Americans, many of whom had died in battle in Vietnam, a great debt of gratitude for their valour in a conflict which had tested not only their bravery but their humanity as well.

"The American people have a genius for splendid and unselfish action,” be said. “A willingness to meet aggression is the inescapable price of peace,” he said. “It is a price we must be prepared to pay now or be forced to pay later and perhaps more dearly.” Mr Tran Van Do, the Foreign Minister of South Vietnam, addressing the conference briefly as an observer, said that Communist aggression in Vietnam must be checked to spare all the other nations in the area from the same predicament faced by South Vietnam.

"The test of validity for S.EA.T.O. ii now in Vietnam,” he said.