Three newly independent states, one of them divided, emerged from the deliberations which attended the breakup of Indochina.s Even before they had had a chance to organize as states and to create viable economies and social structures, they were under attack by the same forces which had subjugated northern Viet-Nam. During their short national existence they have not been given the chance to develop to the point where they could protect themselves against further subversions or aggressions. We believe, and we feel confident that our views are shared by the other members of this Organization, that it is our obligation to assist the peoples of southeast Asia in their fight for their freedom, both because of our responsibilities in connection with the formation of these states and because of the duties undertaken in the formation of the SEATO organization. Speaking for my country I wish to assure the members of this Organization and the people of southeast Asia that the United States will live up to these responsibilities. It is our sincere belief that all of the states of mainland southeast Asia can themselves resolve their purely internal problems. In these, of course, we have no desire to interfere. We will, however, continue to assist free nations of this area who are struggling for their survival against armed minorities directed, supplied, and supported from without. We will assist those defending themselves against such forces just as we shall assist those under attack by naked aggression. We feel confident that our fellow SEATO members share our feeling and will likewise meet their commitments under this treaty. A primary purpose of this meeting of the Council of Ministers is to determine how this can best be done. 457. SEVENTH MINISTERIAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF SEATO, BANGKOK, MARCH 27-29, 1961: Communiqué Issued March 30, 1961 ° 9 The SEATO Council held its seventh meeting in Bangkok from March 27 to 29, 1961, under the chairmanship of His Excellency, Mr. Thanat Khoman, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand. The inaugural address was delivered by the Prime Minister of Thailand, His Excellency, Field Marshal Srisdi Dhanarajata.10 RESOLUTION Having examined the situation in Laos and the Republic of VietNam, the Council unanimously approved the following resolution: 1. Consulting together as provided in the Manila Pact,11 the SEATO 8 9 11 See American Foreign Policy, 1950–1955: Basic Documents, pp. 2363-2405. Department of State press release No. 173, as corrected (text as printed in the Department of State Bulletin, Apr. 17, 1961, pp. 549–550). 10 11 Text in SEATO: Record of Progress, 1960-1961, pp. 31-32. Text in American Foreign Policy, 1950-1955: Basic Documents, pp. 912–915. Council has noted with grave concern the continued offensive by rebel elements in Laos 12 who are continuing to be supplied and assisted by Communist powers in flagrant disregard of the Geneva accords.13 2. The Council once more makes it clear that SEATO is a defensive organization with no aggressive intentions and reiterates, in the words of the treaty, its "desire to live in peace with all peoples and all governments." 3. The Council desires a united, independent and sovereign Laos, free to achieve advancement in a way of its own choosing and not subordinate to any nation or group of nations. 4. It is believed that these results ought to be achieved through negotiations and cannot be hoped for if the present fighting continues. 5. The Council notes with approval the present efforts for a cessation of hostilities and for peaceful negotiations to achieve an unaligned and independent Laos. 6. If those efforts fail, however, and there continues to be an active military attempt to obtain control of Laos, members of SEATO are prepared, within the terms of the treaty, to take whatever action may be appropriate in the circumstances. 7. The Council also noted with concern the efforts of an armed minority, again supported from outside in violation of the Geneva accords, to destroy the Government of South Viet-Nam,1 and declared its firm resolve not to acquiesce in any such takeover of that country. 8. Finally, the Council records its view that the organization should continue to keep developments in Laos and Viet-Nam under urgent and constant review in the light of this resolution. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS During its deliberations, the Council also reviewed other aspects of the situation in the treaty area.15 The Council firmly reiterated the need for collective defense, and for economic and social development. The Council stressed the importance of continuing to develop good relations and of increasing the sense of community among free countries in the area, all of which have a common interest in preserving their independence. COUNTER-SUBVERSION The Council noted that further progress has been made during the year in jointly studying techniques of subversion and insurgency, which continue to be favored Communist tactics in the treaty area, and in exchanging information on means of countering such activities. 13 Text in American Foreign Policy, 1950-1955: Basic Documents, pp. 750-785. 14 See post, docs. 537-547. 15 As defined in art. 8 of the Manila Pact; see American Foreign Policy, 19501955: Basic Documents, p. 914. MILITARY DEFENSE The Council noted with satisfaction the planning work of the military advisers, the reorganization of the Military Planning Office, and the effective coordination achieved by the forces of member countries in the several military exercises conducted during the past year.16 The Council expressed confidence that these efforts provide renewed assurance of the ability and readiness of SEATO to resist aggression. ECONOMIC COOPERATION The Council endorsed a proposal that a SEATO regional agricultural research program be established, which would sponsor, assist and supplement existing research facilities in the Asian member countries. The aims are to increase agricultural diversification and to control diseases affecting staple crops on which the area is heavily dependent. The Council also endorsed the proposal by the Thai Government for a community development project in northeast Thailand. It encouraged the Thai Government to develop this project in accordance with principles adopted at the SEATO community development conference recently held in Baguio," and noted that experts would be supplied by member Governments for this purpose. The Council members attended the first graduation ceremony of the SEATO Graduate School of Engineering in Bangkok, at which degrees were conferred by His Excellency, the Prime Minister of Thailand. This occasion marked a noteworthy step in SEATO's endeavors to develop those professional skills needed in the economic development of Southeast Asia. The Council noted further progress on the following projects: The SEATO Cholera Research Laboratory in Dacca has been opened. Its counterpart, the SEATO Cholera Research Project in Thailand, has been expanded into the SEATO general Medical Research Laboratory, designed to help eradicate diseases common to the area. A successful conference on cholera research was held in Dacca in December 1960.18 The SEATO meteorological communication project, by providing advance information on weather conditions, is designed to achieve greater safety for air travel and a reduction of storm damage to property and crops. The SEATO skilled labor projects in Pakistan, the Philippines and Thailand are performing the necessary task of increasing the number of skilled people who can participate in developing the economies of these countries and their defense capacities. 16 Exercise Air Bull, air exercise in Thailand, Mar. 1961; exercise Rajata, command-post exercise in Thailand, Mar. 1961; and exercise Pony Express, employing 60 ships, 200 aircraft, and 26,000 men, held off Borneo, under U.K. and U.S. sponsorship, Apr.-May 1961. 17 Held in Dec. 1960. 18 Convened Dec. 5, 1960. CULTURAL ACTIVITIES The Council expressed satisfaction with the contacts and understanding achieved among academic leaders by the conference of heads of universities held in Karachi early this year.19 It also agreed to continue the SEATO cultural program. SECRETARIAT-GENERAL The Council expressed appreciation for the outstanding services rendered to the organization during the past year by the SecretaryGeneral, His Excellency, Nai Pote Sarasin, and his staff. EXPRESSION OF GRATITUDE The Council expressed its gratitude to the Government of Thailand for its hospitality and the excellent arrangements made for the conference. The meeting voted warm thanks to the chairman, His Excellency, Mr. Thanat Khoman. NEXT MEETING The Council accepted with pleasure the invitation of the Government of France to hold its next meeting in Paris in 1962. B. Consultations Under the ANZUS Treaty [NOTE: No formal consultations were held during 1961 under the ANZUS Treaty as such. Bilateral discussions were held, however, with the Governments of Australia and New Zealand; see post, docs. 458 and 531.] "BY FAR THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENT IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS WHAT HAPPENS TO PEOPLE IN THE PROCESS": Statement Made by the Under Secretary of State (Bowles) at the Thirteenth Ministerial Meeting of the Consultative Committee on Cooperative Economic Development in South and Southeast Asia, Kuala Lumpur, November 15, 1961 1 19 Held Jan. 25-Feb. 1, 1961. 1 1 The Department of State Bulletin, Dec. 11, 1961, pp. 988-992. Doc. 457 D. Relations With Certain Countries and Concerning Certain Problems of the Area AUSTRALIA 458. REAFFIRMATION OF "THE TRADITIONAL PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE PEOPLES OF AUSTRALIA AND THE UNITED STATES": Joint Communiqué Issued at Washington by the President of the United States (Kennedy) and the Prime Minister of Australia (Menzies), February 24, 1961 1 President Kennedy and Prime Minister Menzies met today in Washington to discuss informally a wide range of international problems. The Secretary of State, Mr. Dean Rusk; the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs, Mr. J. Graham Parsons; and the Australian Ambassador to the United States, Mr. Howard Beale; assisted in these discussions. Both the President and the Prime Minister welcome this opportunity to reaffirm the traditional partnership between the peoples of Australia and the United States. In their review of security problems, the President and the Prime Minister reiterated their strong faith in SEATO and ANZUS as bulwarks for the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. They both expressed their willingness to cooperate with all nations to work together for peace and freedom in the world. They recognized the central importance of the United Nations and the Office of the Secretary General in the pursuit of peaceful settlements and pledge their joint support of the efforts now being made by the Secretary General to bring peace to the Congo. They deplored current attempts to twist the tragic events in the Congo into an attack upon the United Nations itself.2 They welcomed the initiative of King Savang Vatthana proposing a course of action to bring peace, stability and neutrality to Laos, expressing the hope that his efforts will bear fruit. They agreed that efforts must be continued to arrive at an effective agreement under international control in the field of disarmament. 1 White House press release dated Feb. 20 (text as printed in the Department of State Bulletin, Mar. 13, 1961, p. 372). 2 See ante, doc. 350. 3 See post, doc. 497. |