SEATO COUNCIL MEETING
CANBERRA, A. or. T.
Speech by the Prime Minister Mr. Harold Holt.
27th JUNE, 1966.
Mr. Prime Minister, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen:
It is an honour foi me to be asked to open the 1966 SEATO
Conference. I extend a wañ ii welcome to you all on behalf of the Australian
Government and puople. This welcome embraces not only the distinguished
Foreign Ministers and delegations of countries with which we enjoy close and
constructive relations both in SEATO and outside of it, but also the
distinguished Secretary -General, General Vargas, and staff of the Organization.
Australia has become more conscious in recent times that,
through geography, trade and circumstance, we are increasingly part of the
Asian scene. Australia has good cause to value the existence of SEATO. It
has been a solid pillar of security for us. We have faithfully honoured our
own commitments to our colleagues of the Organization, and we are
grateful for the support given to SEATO's purposes by those members of the
Organization who have made much more massive contributions than our own.
There has been a good deal of debate and talk about a domino
theory in Asia. This theory propounds the view that if one country of
Southi-East Asia succumbs to Communist aggression, the others will topple
in turn. We can claim, from its achikevements, that SEATO has
successfully applied the domi-o theory in reverse. It has brought us an
assurance of combined support. We, and others of the-area, have lived
much more securely because of its existence. have been able to plan
more confidently for an expanding future. have done so encouraged by
the fact that SEATO provides a shield of protection and a means of
constructive collaboration. The Asian countries of SEATO have been able to build their
defences and to strengthen their economies. The year under review provides
further heartening proof to that supplied in other recent years that those
countries of Asia under Communist threat can, with outside help
supple m enting their own efforts, meet that challe:. nge and proceed to
prosperous economic growth. We can point to countries of the region, some
of them members of this Organization, which have recorded notable gains
of economic and social progress and are now advancing to new levels of
achieveme-int in an environment of stability. To those of us who live in the
area there is inspiration in the visible evidences of improvemnent and
progress. Some countries that I have visited recently seem transformed
against my recollections of them in earlier years.
What is also heartening has been the emergence of positive
and constructive attitudes to international instrumentalities for economic
co-operation. Although national sovereignty has been attained by some only
within the last 20 years, they display a commendable readiness to work with
others and create the institutions for co -operation. The newly constituted
Asian and Pacific Council and the Asian Development Bank are welcome
examples. We have welcomed also the generous undertaking by the President
of the United States to make a billion dollar contribution towards economic
development in South-East Asia. Developments such as these inspire a
spirit of hope more widely felt throughout the whole region. Even in the
heat of military contest in South Vietnam, there are practical programmes
being evolved for better times ahead.
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Wie are all conscious of a fermcent of change in the fPsia of today.
The-restlessnoss and the turbulence give rise to the mnore dramatic episodes
which arc, widely publicised. But these, arc only aspects of dynamic forces, some
of them much more favourable in their influence, shaping movements in human
affairs which in turn can affect the whole world.
SEATO has i-Ls critics and, of course!, it has its imperfections.
But the fact is that since its formation, it has held Communism at bay. From
South Vietnam, one of the: SEATO protocol states, where the thrust of
aggression has been fiercest, we are now receiving much mcre hopeful reports.
But while we have strengthened the foundations of our security, the need for
SEATO remains as strong as ever. No region today contains greater dangers
for world peace and security than Asia. South-East Asia has been singled out
by the-Communists as a critical area of challenge. They bclieve that if their
technique of so-called wars of national liberatio n can succeed in South Vietnam,
it can be employed with similar success in many other countries.
Why did the SEATO Treaty come into existence? It was designed
to enable its member countries to combine together to counter the Commnunist
threat in Asia. It was built on the reality that, left to themselves the countries
of the area would fall to Communist pressures. It recognises that these pressures
can take many formis. They vary in intensity, and they require a variety of
responses. Thanks to SEATO the Governments of member countries can
expect assistance, not only when declared conventional military attack occurs
across their frontiers, but also they can look for assistance when their
authority and administration are under assault from those familiar Communist
instruriients subversion and guerrilla warfare.
Communist aggression in South-East Asia follows what has become
a clear pattern. It usually begins covertly. There is long underground
preparation. This includes political i* ndoc tri nation, the training of cadres and the
build up of secret sources of supply. The initial threats are indirect. They
are concealed and they mature slowly.
The response made by the SEATO allies must therefore, be
carefully devised. There must be armed strength, of course, but we cannot
win an enduring victory by military means alone. There is the battle to be
won for the people's support, and to win this there must be political, social,
administrative and economic measures acceptable to them.
On my recent visit to South-East Asia, it was of special interest
to me to discover how earnestly the positive constructive tasks directed to a better
way of life in the community were being promoted. Whether in South Vietnam,
Malaysia or Thailand, I found that the Government concerned had turneld it3
attention to this need for a positive, constructive programme of civic action and
rural development. It is to be found to a growing extent among the programmes
of the military forces of all the countries concerned. Our own Australian forces,
wherever situated give a high priority to their activities in this field. No doubt
we have a long way to go, but the processes are under way.
A notable feature of SEATO is that each member country retains
its freedom of action about how best it can make a contribution. This
flexibility is important because the problems that we face are neither simple nor
clear cut. SEATO has shown itself capable of adapting itself speedily and
effectively to handling the different phases of tactics and timing of the Communist
challenge in Asia. We know, for example, that faced with military reverses, the
Communists are likely to step up their well known tactics of subversion,
infiltration, terrorismi and sabotage.
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SEATO, of course does not stand alone as the sole
instrument for security in Asia and the Pacific region. Several members of
SEATO belong to other arrangements which help to fortify the SEATO
structure and the fabric of security in the region. These arrangements are,
for the most part, formally established and contribute greatly to the
common defence in the region of Asia and the Pacific. The countries of
the free world associated in SEATO have shown their capacity to defend
national sovereignty and integrity.
Successive Communist challenges in . Isia have failed.
They have been met by the militaryT strength of the Government under attack.
It has been supported by the mrilitary forces, logistical backing and economic
strength of its partners, and of other friendly forces also.
The major challenge of Communism in Asia today is directed
to South Vietnam, as I have said . But it has met growing and determined
strength of resistance. SEATO is not merely an instrument for military security.
Its purposes include the advancement of all in the regions it serves-, It is
well constituted to help by practical assistance and friendly guidance.
SEATO has enabled us to exercise strength through combination. This is
of great importance to the smaller powers which are helped in this way to
devote more of their resources to economic growth. Australia in common
with some other members of the Organization, has made your problems of
development as well as those of defence. Left to ourselves, we would be
overburdened and crippled with security costs. The existence of SEATO and
other security arrangements ensures that members who are most directly
threatened and who are the least able to afford large military establishments
will neither perish nor impoverish themselves.
The wisdom, ability and experience assembled here should
enable this conference to advance most usefully the purposes of the
Organization. The ultimate answer to Communism must be found in the minds
of the people. They must feel convinced that life has meaning, promise and
better standards for them. We who oppose Communism must be more than
anti-Communist. We must demonstrate the false attractions of Communist
ideology and expose its techniques of human manipulation. But we must
stand together for the satisfaction of decent human aspirations and the
precious enjoyment of individual liberty.
Your SEATO labours of today will do much to shape the Asia
of tomorrow. I wish you fruitful and successful meetings.
I formally declare the conference open.