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.)