Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, East Asian Security; Cambodia; Laos, Volume XXI

94. Paper Agreed Upon at the Second SEATO Council Meeting¹

SCM/K.56 D/15—Revised

Karachi, March 8, 1956.

FINAL TEXT OF THE DECISIONS AND RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL

The Council approved the recommendations contained in the Report of the Council Representatives (Document SCR/56/Rep.–C as amended by Document SCM/K.56/D.2) in respect of the Permanent Working Group, the Executive Secretariat, the Research Service Centre, the Information Programme, the Cultural Relations Programme for SEATO, as well as the Common Budget for the Council Representatives.

2. The Council took note of the Military Advisers’ Report as a basis for future defense planning and preparations. It further noted with approval the decision of the Military Advisers to appoint a Security Co-ordinator and instructed the Council Representatives to provide all necessary facilities to enable the Security Coordinator to perform the same functions for the civil side of the organization as he is required by the Military Advisers to perform for the military side of the organization.

3. The Council decided:—

(i) that an Economic Officer on the international staff of the Executive Secretariat be appointed by the Council Representatives, with duties to be determined by the Council Representatives. This officer is to be in addition to the five officers of the Secretariat already agreed to.

(ii) that the New Zealand proposal (Document SCM/K.56/D.4) be referred to the Council Representatives for study and recommendations to member Governments.

4. The Council adopted the following Resolutions:—

(i) The Council resolved that the Council Representatives’ Public Relations Officer should be responsible for public relations for SEATO as a whole;

The Council invited the Military Advisers to consider the desirability of appointing a nominee of suitable rank to act as assistant to the Council Representatives’ Public Relations Officer.

The Council instructed the Council Representatives to prepare a brief policy making paper for approval by Governments as a directive to the Public Relations Officer.

(ii) The Council referred the proposals of the Philippine Delegation contained in Document SCM/K.56/D3 to the Council Representatives for urgent consideration at their next meeting, with the understanding that their recommendations thereon will be submitted directly to the Member Governments in order that appropriate action on those recommendations may be taken without delay.

(iii) The French Delegation having drawn the attention of the Council to the fact that it would be advisable that the Council should:

(a) reaffirm and define in a joint declaration the principles which govern the action undertaken by the members of the Organisation in the economic field,

(b) approve the recommendation submitted by the Committee of Economic Experts that each Council Representative should be assisted by an officer specialised in economic matters, whose functions would be to pinpoint for his Government matters which relate to SEATO economic affairs,

the Council referred the proposals to their Representatives for urgent consideration at their next meeting, with the understanding that their recommendations thereon will be submitted directly to the Member Governments, in order that appropriate action on those recommendations may be taken without delay.

(iv) The French Delegation having drawn the attention of the Council to the need of giving highest priority to studies already begun on the following matters:—

(a) the concrete economic problems raised by the specific difficulties resulting from the defence effort of Member States;

(b) the determination of the areas which their economic weakness makes particularly susceptible to subversive propaganda or activities, and also the economic and social difficulties and the specific needs of such areas,

the Council invited their Representatives urgently to pursue the study of these two questions and to submit directly any recommendations thereon to the Member Governments, in order that appropriate action may be taken without delay.²

1. Source: Department of State, Conference Files: Lot 62 D 181, CF 661. Secret.

2. In a portion of Dulte 15 from Karachi, March 8, marked “Eyes only Acting Secretary, for President from Secretary”, Dulles reported to President Eisenhower on the Council meeting as follows:

   “We have just completed the meeting of the SEATO Council. Everything went very well. There is a sense of reality and spirit of fellowship which marks a great advance over last year’s meeting at Bangkok. The military advisers have done a good job and the military operation called Firm Link, which our people carried out in Thailand with considerable cooperation of other SEATO countries made a deep impression. The countersubversive and economic phases are developing satisfactorily.

   “The principal excitement revolved around the Pakistanis’ raising of their territorial controversies with Afghanistan and with India. These were handled in a way which should not give any offense, although the Pakistanis have in the press considerably exaggerated what the Council did, and there will probably be some unfavorable reactions in both India and Afghanistan, based not so much on what the Council did which was very limited but upon Pakistan newspaper play-ups.” (Ibid., Central Files, 396.1–KA/3–856)