27. Memorandum of a Conversation, Ambassador Johnson’s Residence, Wellington, April 7, 1959, 5:20 p.m.1
PARTICIPANTS
- The United States
- Under Secretary Dillon
- Mr. Reinhardt
- Ambassador Johnson
- The United Kingdom
- UK Chief Delegate (Minister of Defense) Sandys
SUBJECT
- Subjects for discussion at Fifth SEATO Council Meeting
Mr. Sandys called on Mr. Dillon at 5:20 this evening to discuss various matters that might be raised in the SEATO Council Meeting. There was some discussion of the possibility of the Asian Members raising the question of increased economic aid. Mr. Sandys took the view that this was primarily of interest to the United States and that the UK would follow the US lead in this regard. Mr. Dillon indicated that the Asian Members might also be pointing their finger at the UK and also pointed out that one aspect of the matter was the dissatisfaction of the Thais and the Secretary General with the action of the UK in vetoing an assistant for the Economic Services Officer. Mr. Sandys made no comment on this.
Mr. Sandys brought up the subject of the Military Advisers’ paper on Communist Insurgency,2 with a specific reference to Laos. He said that in spite of the injunctions of the other Military Advisers, he feared that the French might still attempt to talk to the Laotians concerning the matter. He also indicated some dissatisfaction at the failure of the United States to commit ground forces to such an action in Laos and hoped that the UK “would not have to go it alone”. Mr. Dillon pointed [Page 79] to the United States commitment to provide lift and said he thought that Pakistan, among others, might be expected, to provide troops. Mr. Sandys indicated skepticism on this.