Seoul Welcomes Ky’s Decision

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31085, 14 June 1966, Page 17

Seoul Welcomes Ky’s Decision

fN Z. Press Assn —Copyright) SEOUL, June 13. Ambassadors of 10 Asian and Pacific nations met in Seoul today to work out final details of a conference that could result in a new non-mili-tary organisation for economic and cultural co-operation. The decision by the South Vietnamese Premier, Ngtiyen Cao Ky, not to attend the conference, opening tomorrow, removed one controversial aspect. Since the Japanese and Malaysians fear that the conference might create a new military alliance, the announcement over the weekend that Premier Ky was coming caused some misgivings. Military Concern There was some concern that his presence might lead the Japanese and Malaysians to feel that any economic and cultural organisation might really turn into a military alliance.

The Philippine Foreign Secretary, Mr Narciso Ramos, the Thai Foreign Minister, Mr Thanat Khoman, and the Nationalist Chinese Foreign Minister, Mr Wei Tao-ming, who arrived yesterday, met individually and informally

the South Korean Foreign Minister, Mr Lee Tong-won. There were reports that Mr Ramos and Mr Khoman urged Mr Lee to make it known to Premier Ky that it would be better for all concerned if he remained in Saigon. When word reached Seoul that he was not coming after all, there was noticeable relief among the delegates.