S.E.A.T.O. COUNCIL MEETING (MANILA) (Hansard, 2 April 1958)

§ Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

The following is the text of the final communiqué of the 143W Fourth Meeting of the South-East Asia Treaty Organisation Council.

SOUTH-EAST ASIA TREATY ORGANISATION

Fourth Meeting of the SEATO Council, Manila, 11th–13th March, 1958

FINAL COMMUNIQUÉ

13th March, 1958

The Fourth Annual Meeting of the SEATO Council was held in Manila from 11th to 13th March, 1958, under the Chairmanship of the Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs, of the Philippines, the Honourable Felixberto M. Serrano. The Council reviewed the world situation with special attention to the Treaty Area, approved the work of the Organisation since the meeting in Canberra a year ago, and considered reports by the Council Representatives, the Military Advisers and the Secretary-General. The Council welcomed the appointment of H. E. Nai Pote Sarasin of Thailand as Secretary-General of the Organisation. This position was created at last year's meeting.

Security of the Region The Council considered the continuing Communist threat to the region. The Ministers reaffirmed their determination to maintain national and collective defence against the possibility of Communist and Communist-inspired armed aggression, while at the same time earnestly working for international disarmament with adequate safeguards covering both nuclear and conventional elements. SEATO has become a bulwark which has enabled the countries protected thereby to proceed in peace with their programmes of national development. Members of SEATO recognised that a threat to security or to freedom in any region of the world was a threat to security and freedom everywhere. Some criticism of the aims and objectives of SEATO continues to be heard. The Council agreed that every country has the right to follow the policy it prefers. The Council noted with regret that some countries nevertheless continue to criticise the collective security arangements of the free world, though such arrangements are in accordance with the United Nations Charter.

Subversion The problems of Communist subversion in the Treaty Area were discussed at length. It was recognised that this represented the most substantial current menace. The Council was of the opinion that collective security measures had resulted in the diversion of the emphasis of Communist activities from the military to the non-military field. Communist and Communist-inspired activity has continued within the Treaty Area. In countries protected by the Treaty there has been a noticeable change of emphasis by the Communists to activity in the economic, political and cultural fields and also to activity within youth and labour organisations. 144W The Council welcomed the counter subversion measures being taken by the members and noted particularly the success of the Seminar on Countering Communist Subversion held in Baguio in the Philippines last November. The Council recognised that in view of the insidious character of Communist subversion there was particular danger arising from some non-Communist governments failing to distinguish between the aims and ideals of the free world and the purposes of international communism.

Economic Activities The Council heard statements on the economic progress and problems of the Treaty Area and on what further steps could be taken inside and outside SEATO to attain the economic objectives set forth in the Manila Treaty. A principal means of attaining these objectives continues to be through extensive bilateral and other economic arrangements between the SEATO countries. During the past year over $700,000,000 for economic purposes was provided for countries covered by the Manila Treaty, principally by the United States. This aid is a major factor in preserving peace and genuine independence for countries of the region. Australia announced that it would make available to the Asian members of SEATO a further £A1,000,000 ($2,240,000) for purposes generally related to SEATO defence; this is in addition to £A2,000,000 previously contributed by Australia for these purposes. The United States announced that $2,000,000 was being made available to the Asian members of SEATO for vocational and on-the-job training. Australia, France, New Zealand and the United Kingdom also offered to help on various aspects of skilled labour training. The United States also announced that the major portion of its economic aid was now being directed to the region of Asia. The Council approved in principle a project submitted by Thailand to establish a SEATO Graduate School of Engineering in Bangkok and several members announced that they would be pleased to participate in providing the necessary funds

Cultural Activities The Council agreed to continue and expand its programme of cultural activities. The Council expressed its satisfaction at the holding in Bangkok under SEATO auspices of a Round Table on the impact of modern technology upon traditional cultures in South-East Asia. A number of SEATO Fellowships have been awarded and some Members are conducting bilateral cultural exchanges. The Council agreed to continue its fellowships programmes and to initiate new cultural projects, the most important being a scholarship programme and the appointment of professors at universities of the Asian members and of travelling lecturers.

145W

Relations with other Organisations and Countries The Council expressed its interest in the development of relations with other collective defence organisations of the Free World as well as the facilitation of an exchange of information and opinion between these organisations on a mutually agreeable basis. The Council authorised the Secretary General to enter into contact with the Secretaries General of other collective security organisations of the Free World. The Council considered that contacts between SEATO and non-member States had proved useful in many respects and directed that, as circumstances permitted, such contacts be continued and expanded in the coming years.

Work of Military Advisers The Council noted with approval the work of their Military Advisers and of the Military Planning Office, which has completed its first year's work. Plans in fulfilment of the defensive rôle of SEATO have been developed to resist aggression in the Treaty Area. Since the last Council meeting four major SEATO military exercises have been held as well as three multilateral or bilateral exercises. These have served effectively to increase the degree of co-operation between the forces of the SEATO powers and to make them more ready for speedy action in the event of any sudden attack. The Council authorised a further programme of combined exercises. The Council learned with regret the news of the relief of Brigadier General Alfredo M. Santos, who has been the first Chief of the SEATO Military Planning Office. He is returning for reassignment in the Philippines. The United States and the Philippines announced that they intend to co-sponsor a defence college to be located in the Philippines, This would be open to members and nonmembers of SEATO. The Council took note of this announcement with particular interest.

1958–59 Budget The Council approved Budget Estimates totalling $850,360 for the financial year 1958–59, to cover the cost of the Secretariat-General and Military Planning Office in Bangkok and to finance certain joint programmes.

Next Meeting The Council accepted with pleasure the invitation of the New Zealand Government to hold its next annual meeting in Wellington.

Conclusion The Council considered that the work of the present meeting had helped to consolidate the work a ready achieved by SEATO. They placed on record their determination to continue to work together for the security and progress of South-East Asia in accordance with the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations. The Council Members again emphasised the defensive character of SEATO and reaffirmed the principle that international disputes be settled peacefully in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter. 146W The Representatives attending the Fourth SEATO Council Meeting were—

Australia—Rt. Hon. R. G. Casey.
France—M. Christian Pineau.
New Zealand—Rt. Hon. Walter Nash.
Pakistan—Hon. Nawab Mozaffar AU Khan Qizilbash.
Philippines—Hon. Felixberto M. Serrano.
Thailand—H.R.H. Prince Wan Waithayakon Krommun Naradhip Bongsprabandh.
United Kingdom—Rt. Hon. Selwyn Lloyd.
United States—Hon. John Foster Dulles.