In place of S.E.A.T.O.

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33252, 15 June 1973, Page 8

In place of S.E.A.T.O.

The reasons given by the Prime Minister (Mr Kirk) for maintaining some New Zealand participation in S.E.A.T.O. make good sense. The treaty is still the best guarantee which Thailand has of support from other countries at a time when the Thais, unlike their neighbours in Indo-China, have shown that an intelligent combination of military, social, and economic offensives can contain and, perhaps, defeat a Communist insurgent movement. Mr Kirk has also acknowledged that S.E.A.T.O. has made important contributions to social and economic development in Thailand and the Philippines, its two South-East Asian members. Unless an alternative means of organising similar projects is found, this aspect of S.E.A.T.O. should continue and have New Zealand’s active participation. Mr Kirk still seems uncertain about what kind of regional grouping New Zealand might want to see formed in place of S.E.A.T.O. and of the Asian and Pacific Council (Aspac), in which New Zealand’s membership is also being allowed to run down. This country runs the risk that the Five-Power Defence Agreement with Malaysia and Singapore will soon be its only formal political link with any part of southern and eastern Asia. The Prime Minister, earlier this week, proposed a regional forum for Asian and Pacific countries, perhaps along the lines of the highly successful South Pacific Forum; but he said that South-East Asian countries did not appear to welcome the idea and that New Zealand could hardly take the initiative. It might be wiser for New Zealand to seek membership in an expanded version of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (A.S.E.A.N.). But. once again. New Zealand should wait for an invitation to do so. New Zealand has greatly expanded its diplomatic contacts with the region, and the Government obviously intends to continue this expansion. Visits by New Zealand Cabinet Ministers have become more frequent and the range of less official contacts increases all the time. None of these, however, is an adequate substitute for regular meetings at the highest possible level between political leaders. Likewise, membership of larger economic organisations such as the Asian Development Bank is not sufficient for this country’s purposes. The small, but very useful, contributions which New Zealand makes to the region—whether in defence or development assistance of various kinds—should not be overshadowed by larger contributors in multi-national organisations. In the short run, Mr Kirk's proposal to strengthen New Zealand'-s ties with individual countries should at least ensure that New Zealand retains a voice in the region’s affairs. The novelty of diplomatic representation in Peking and Moscow, should not be allowed to overshadow equally important relationships with much smaller countries, which are closer to New Zealand and which can be expected to treat New Zealand as an equal and friendly partner.