Strong S.E.A.T.O. Defences Planned

Press, Issue 31095, 25 June 1966, Page 15

Strong S.E.A.T.O. Defences Planned

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) CANBERRA, June 24. The South-East Asia Treaty Organisation will strengthen its military defence planning and anti-subversion measures to counter the Communist threat in the treaty area. This was indicated in aand more economic aid, to

communique issued after a meeting of S.E.A.T.O. military advisers which ended in Canberra today. The advisers will report to the S.E.A.T.O. ministerial meeting which will open on Monday. The communique said S.E.A.T.O.’s military planning chief, Major-General H. A. Prince, of Britain, outlined to the meeting proposed revisions in military plans “designed to further strengthen the defence of the tre-ty area.” Sources said that as S.E.A.T.O. had no standing military force, the “revisions” would apply to standby plans formulated in the event of further Communist military moves in the area. They also probably would mean acceleration of military exercises similar to the recent Exercise Sea Imp in the South China Sea, which the communique today dubbed a success. Such exercises were invaluable tests of military I co-operation among member nations, one source said. : The S.E.A.T.O. secretarygeneral (General Jesus Vargas, of the Philippines) told the military advisers that increased emphasis was needed 'in combating both overt and covert Communist moves. General Vargas is reported to have put new proposals, involving security measures

meet what the communique called the “increasing tempo” of Communist infiltration and subversion.