S. Vietnam Will Not Ask Britain For Troops

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31096, 27 June 1966, Page 13

S. Vietnam Will Not Ask Britain For Troops

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) CANBERRA, June 26. South Vietnam would not ask Britain for troops to fight the Viet Cong, the Vietnamese Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr. Tran Van Do, said today.

Dr. Do was speaking to reporters after his arrival in Canberra to attend next week’s South - East Asia Treaty Organisation conference as an observer.

He said Britain, as co-chairman of the 1954 Geneva conference on Indo-China, could not commit forces to the Vietnam conflict.

Questioned on whether the present level of allied forces in Vietnam was sufficient to meet Communist activity. Dr Do said he thought the commitment was enough to face the situation. Asked to comment on suggestions that military opera tions by the Viet Cong might die down within 18 months to two years. Dr. Do said: “It might die down in 12 months, but you know what is is like in guerrilla war, it might go on for 10 years. Asked whether South Vietnam would put any specific requests to 5.E.A.T.0., he said he could not answer that because he was attending only as an observer. Dr. Do said Vietnam was satisfied with the action of

S.E.A.T.O. members in South Vietnam. Asked whether South Vietnam would negotiate with the Communists, he said. “We are always ready to go to the conference table, but it depends on the other side. “We leave the door open, but so far they have rejected all peace moves by other countries.” But, asked whether the Viet Cong could be part of peace talks, he said “We will never consider negotiation with the Viet Cong, which is only the political arm of North Vietnam.” U.K. Peace Work Britain would continue to work for Vietnam peace talks although its attempts had proved “difficult and disappointing” so far, the Foreign Secretary, Mr Michael Stewart, who will also attend the S.E.A.T.O. talks, said today. Mr Stewart was answering reporters’ questions after addressing a luncheon meeting of the National Press Club here. Asked what was the position on the peace moves, Mr Stewart said the prospect was “fai less bright than one would .vish.” Thai Warning The Thailand foreign minister, Mr Thanat Khoman, warned S.E.A.T.O. nations that if they were lacking in collec

tive will, Communist activity would increase. Mr Khoman said the South-east Asia Treaty Organisation’s lack of solidarity in the Laos conflict in 1960-61 emboldened the Communists to strike in South Vietnam. North Vietnam and other aggressor nations would broaden their activities if S.E.A.T.O. members showed weakness.

“We are not trying to prod S.E.A.T.O. into trying to start a war,” he said. Questioned on a possible request for British troops to go to South Vietnam, he said: “We have to take into account that Britain has taken a certain role in South-east Asia. We understand Britain’s problems.” All members of S.E.A.T.O. should make an effective contribution. It was unfair to enjoy the privileges of membership without putting something back into it, he said. “I don’t see why some of them persist with their membership,” he said. “Community Of Interest” Mr Khoman said he would like to see a more effective “community of interest” in S.E.A.T.O. which did not seem to exist at present. He said he was sure the treaty organisation could do more but it was “not completely unuseful.” The military advisers of the organisation warned of an increasing tempo in the Communist threat against Asian member nations. The warning was in a communique at the end of their two-day meeting in Canberra and reported continuing infiltration and subversion.