Office of the Historian
  1. Home
  2. Historical Documents
  3. Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–12, Documents on East and Southeast Asia, 1973–1976
  4. Document 19

19. Telegram 196461 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Thailand, August 19, 1975, 1459Z.1 2

Thailand, August 19, 1975, 1459Z

TELEGRAM
Department of State
State 196461

OP 191459Z AUG 75 ZFF4

FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY BANGKOK NIACT IMMEDIATE
INFO AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY MANILA PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY
CINCPAC PRIORITY

E.O. 11652: GDS
TAGS: SEATO

SUBJECT: DISSOLUTION OF SEATO
REF: CANBERRA 5459; BANGKOK 16965; BANGKOK 17079

1.
DEPARTMENT HAS NO OBJECTIONS TO HAVING SEATO SECRETARIAT DRAW UP A PLAN FOR THE PHASE OUT OF THE SEATO ORGANIZATION FOR CONSIDERATION AT THE SEATO COUNCIL MEETING IN NEW YORK. WE BELIEVE, HOWEVER, THE SECRETARIAT WILL BE HARD PRESSED TO COME UP WITH A PROPOSAL ON SUCH SHORT NOTICE THAT MAKES ADEQUATE PROVISION FOR STAGING DOWN SEATO AND TRANSFERRING FUNCTIONS, SUCH AS THOSE THAILAND WISHES CONTINUED, TO OTHER ENTITIES.
2.
WE BELIEVE THE MAJOR PORTION OF THE “PHASE OUT” WORK WILL HAVE TO COME AFTER THE SEATO COUNCIL MEETING IN SEPTEMBER, AND THAT THE DECISION TO TERMINATE THE ORGANIZATION WILL MOST LIKELY OCCUR AT THE 1976 SEATO COUNCIL MEETING. ANY MOVE TO TERMINATE THE ORGANIZATION AT THE UPCOMING SEPTEMBER MEETING — WHICH WE SUSPECT IS THE AUSTRALIAN INTENTION — WE WOULD VIEW AS PRECIPITOUS AND UNWISE. SUCH A MOVE SHOULD BE OPPOSED UNLESS IT HAS THE UNEQUIVOCAL SUPPORT OF THAILAND AND THE PHILIPPINES. SIMILARLY WE WOULD OPPOSE ANY MOVE TO ELIMINATE FUTURE COUNCIL MEETINGS, MILITARY EXERCISES AND INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE MEETINGS UNTIL SUCH TIME AS A FORMAL DECISION IS MADE BY THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO TERMINATE THE SEATO ORGANIZATION.
3.
YOU ARE AUTHORIZED TO SUPPORT THE THAI POSITION AS STATED IN BANGKOK 17079 FOR GRADUAL PHASE OUT OF SEATO ORGANIZATION OVER PERIOD OF TIME. ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE BEGUN PROCESS OF ALTERING ARRANGEMENTS SO THAT THE SEATO COUNCIL MEETING CAN BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 24. PENDING FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS, YOU MAY ACQUIESCE TO SEPTEMBER 24 AS THE COUNCIL MEETING DATE IF A MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL REPS SO DECIDE. KISSINGER
  1. Source: National Archives, Record Group 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Confidential; Niact; Immediate. Repeated to Priority to Canberra, London, Manila, Wellington, and CINCPAC. Drafted by Gallagher; cleared in EA/RA, EA, and S/P; and approved by Sisco. Telegram 4467 from USUN, October 24, stated, “As anticipated, SEATO Council meeting of September 24 resulted in decision to phase out SEATO organization over period of approximately two years. FYI: Philippines made statement for record that both treaty and organization should be phased out together but as result of compromise between Thai and Philippine delegations, Romulo agreed that Philippines would remain silent on the Manila Pact.” (Ibid.)↩
  2. The Department offered its views on the dissolution of SEATO.↩