‘S.E.A.T.O. Not Hurt By Vietnam’

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31113, 16 July 1966, Page 16

‘S.E.A.T.O. Not Hurt By Vietnam’

The South-East Asia Treaty Organisation was not weakened by military participation of some member countries in the South Vietnam war, said Lieutenant-General Jesus Vargas, S.E.A.T.O.’s Secretary-General, in Christchurch yesterday.

“S.E.A.T.O. won’t be hurt by members having troops in Vietnam,” he said. Even America’s big military commitment in Vietnam would not, he believed, prevent the United States from playing its part if there was a need for execution of a military plan by S.E.AT.O. General Vargas, who is visiting New Zealand in the course of a tour of member countries, said the participation of S.E.A.T.O. as an organisation in the Vietnam war depended on certain factors and requirements. Before the organisation could act in that way, there would have to be a formal request for assistance. “Honestly and frankly,” he said, “I have studied all the material, and there has been no formal request submitted. “Instead, South Vietnam has elected to appeal to member Governments individually. Under the treaty, military assistance can be rendered either collectively or individually.” General Vargas said it was

his opinion that that course was better than collective action. If S.E.A.T.O. took part as a body in the war it would have to set up its own command headquarters there, which might confuse the situation, and at the moment the efforts of participating countries were all co-ordinated very satisfactorily. Repeating his approval of the American bombing of fuel installations near Hanoi, General Vargas said these measures were having the desired result of forcing Hanoi and China towards the conference table.

“Similar measures,” he said, “which will prevent Hanoi from extending its acts of aggression to South Vietnam will be necessary and good actions to bring about an early military decision.”