Bersatu Padu
6.
The major five-power Commonwealth exercise is now under
way in West Malaysia. One of its main aims is to demonstrate the
effectiveness of our general capability. Combined forces taking
part in the exercise consist of about 24,000 servicemen, some
50 warshipe and 180 aircraft. Cur contribution, which has
included a major airlift from the U.K., is costing some £2 million
SZATO
7.
Although SEATO's membership within the South East Asian
region is limited, we feel that SEATO still fulfils a useful
role as the only multilateral defence agreement in the region,
in reassuring the Thais (and to a lesser extent the Filipinos)
by providing a multilateral structure for their defence.
willing to continue as members of it as long as the regional
menbere feel the organisation serves a useful purpose and wants
us to be in it.
8.
We are
Since announcement in 1968 of our withdrawal from East of
Suez our policy has been to try to compensate for the diminution
of our military contribution by being as helpful as possible in
the non-military aspects of SEATO's work (e.g. counter-subversion, the SEATC economic programme), and by maintaining contributions of staff as well as by leaving some at least of the force declarations to SEATO plans right up to April 1971. This policy
of "good partnership", enunciated especially by Lord Shepherd at
the 1969 Council meeting in Bangkok, has earned us credit.
9.
Questions may well be asked about the role of SSATO towards
Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, all three of which are designated in
the Protocol to the Manila Treaty as countries to which protection
/in terms
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.