Office of the Historian

8. Telegram From the Delegation at the SEATO Council Meeting to the Department of State1

Manila, March 13, 1958.

Secto 38. Paris pass USRO. Department pouch Baghdad. Fourth closed session Fourth SEATO Council morning closing day occupied with items “Other Business” and “Communiqué”.

Other Business

Nash for New Zealand extended invitation to host next Council meeting in New Zealand. This accepted and Council Reps are to work out timing.

UK (Lloyd) expressed feeling that slower than hoped for progress was being made on program of exposure of Communist activity. Suggested that each permanent rep be instructed by his govt to take urgent action to facilitate program. Secretary for US associated himself with UK position on need for quick action. Suggested that SecGen well qualified to issue statements as appropriate and when speed essential. Noted that US rep has authority to give instant approval for US in such cases. Suggested other member nations give their reps similar authority with caveat that such statements as may be issued do not bind govts themselves. Idea of empowering SecGen to make statements where urgency required approved after French (Pineau) interpolation that SecGen inform Council Reps of text his statement and reason for immediate issuance. Pineau also stated this procedure could be reviewed at later date in light of experience.

Casey raised question of need for appropriate SEATO emblem. Was agreed Council Reps would carry on efforts to achieve agreed design.

Communiqué

Major discussion revolved on: (1) whether or not Indonesia and situation there should be mentioned directly; decision was make no specific mention;2 (2) how strong section on subversion should be; and (3) how neutralism should be treated.

Dulles
  1. Source: Department of State, Conference Files: Lot 63 D 123, CF 990. Confidential; SEATO. Drafted in the political section of the Embassy in Manila and cleared with U. Alexis Johnson. Repeated to London, Paris, Karachi, Bangkok, Canberra, and Wellington.↩

  2. According to the Verbatim Minutes of this session, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Thailand favored making some mention of the Indonesian situation in the communiqué, while the United States, Pakistan, New Zealand, and France were opposed. At the end of the discussion, the Council members who had favored mention of Indonesia gave way, citing the rule of unanimity. (SCM/58/VR–3, March 13; ibid., CF 981)

    For text of the communiqué issued March 13, see Department of State Bulletin, March 31, 1958, p. 504. Text of the Secretary’s remarks made at the closing public session that day is ibid., p. 506. A summary of the closing public session is in Secto 36 from Manila, March 13. (Department of State, Conference Files: Lot 63 D 123, CF 990; included in the microfiche supplement)

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