S.E.A.T.O. critics “misinformed”

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32634, 16 June 1971, Page 2

S.E.A.T.O. critics “misinformed”

(N.Z. Press Association)

WELLINGTON, June 15.

. Criticism of New Zealand’s involvement in S.E.A.T.O. as outdated and irrelevant was misleading and misinformed, said the Prime Minister (Sir Keith Holyoake) at the annual conference of the Returned Services Association in Wellington today.

S.E.A.T.O. each year had been brought up to date, and had reacted to the threats of resurgency and infiltration, the Prime Minister said.

He concluded his address by saying that New Zealand would continue to do what it could, and should, to help South-East Asian countries with the task of maintaining stability in the region. Since the Second World War, the Pacific region had

been an area of much concern to the Government. Major and wide-ranging changes had taken place, one of which was the implementation of the Nixon doctrine in Asia, which reduced military presence in the area. The United States had announced that it had looked to the countries in South-

East Asia to assume responsibility there. Also changing, said Sir Keith Holyoake, were the growing Soviet activities in the area, and the increasing flexibility of China’s foreign policy. However, the growing strength of the smaller countries was permitting

them to play bigger roles in the security of the area, which was so vital to New' Zealand. TROOPS HOME New Zealand’s defence role was changing and would continue to. In Vietnam, the security position had greatly improved, and the ability of the North Vietnamese forces to launch a major offensive

i- had greatly diminished over t. the last 12 months. As a g result, New Zealand had e withdrawn some of her ;- troops. e It was clear, however, said I- Sir Keith Holyoake, that a serious enemy threat d remained, especially in Laos, d and unhappily, in Cambodia, i- The North Vietnamese still

refused to give up their attempts to take, by force, South Vietnam, and their object would appear to be the whole Indo-China area. They had continued to reject any offer, including the generous one by President Nixon last October, for a ceasefire and negotiations over the whole of Indo-China.

Recently, he had been in London for two defence conferences, Sir Keith Holyoake said. The first conference was arranged to discuss Commonwealth forces in the Malaysian area. After a 16year involvement in the area, forces had been brought home as the threatened countries had shown a

capacity to defend themselves. The other defence meeting was that of the S.E.A.T.O. countries. "STILL THREAT” S.E.A.T.O. was the only general defence arrangement in the area. After the Second World War, it and N.A.T.O. had been set up to help protect countries in the area from a threat which still remained.

New Zealand’s commitments of forces to the area were kept up to date, and that was why military training was still compulsory.

It was significant that since the signing of the Manila Pact, not one of the countries party to the treaty had been attacked, said Sir Keith Holyoake.

Since the 1954 treaty, much had changed but S.E.A.T.O. had been responsive to the changes. Major dangers were resurgency and infiltration, and S.E.A.T.O. had reacted to meet the threats. The assistance offered by

5.E.A.T.0.-type arrangements was still required, and the people of the threatened countries still welcomed assurances from the United States and Britain of their continued interest and support. DEFENCE CUTS In spite of the financial problems in the last year, New Zealand's national defence establishment had made many significant new developments, said the Minister of Defence (Mr Thomson).

Progress was being made towards the establishment of the new five-Power defence arrangements with allies in Malaysia and Singapore. Mr Thomson referred to new equipment the forces had received over the last year, and proposed purchases.

Although cuts had been made in defence expenditure, the Government remained determined to keep the armed forces at the highest possible standards of readiness and effectiveness, he said.