Outline Of S.E.A.T.O. Aims

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31094, 24 June 1966, Page 11

Outline Of S.E.A.T.O. Aims

(N.Z. Press Assn. — Copyright) CANBERRA, June 23.

The Australian Defence Minister, Mr Allan Fairhall, today reaffirmed the determination of the SouthEast Asian Treaty Organisation to resist Communist aggression and “the new imperialism” it sought to build.

He emphasised that S.E.A.T.O.’s aims were defensive only.

Mr Fairhall was giving an address of welcome to S.E.A.T.O. military advisers, who opened two days of secret talks in Canberra today in advance of a full three-day S.E.A.T.O. council meeting starting on Monday. Delegations of six of the eight member nations— Britain, the United States, Thailand, the Philippines, New Zealand and Australia—were represented at today’s meeting by high military officers. France and Pakistan sent only single observers. Mr Fairhall said: “We are determined to discourage the threats and resist the fact of Communist aggression.

“It is ironic that, while t’ ® world is busy dismantling the structure of colonialism, there are those powers which seek to build a new imperialism. “In their efforts, they employ against free peoples the tactics of insurgency, subversion, and terrorism.” Mr Fairhall said the Communists tried to keep their attack below a level which would invite retaliation.

“But we will not be misled,” he said. “Plans must be made of the provision of basic facilities in our separate countries to make possible the active deployment of armed forces in time of need.”

The Minister said the military advisers would give ; form and substance to these plans and exercises at their Canberra meeting.