Evening star., 1949-05-23
Too Much FIux for q Pacific Poet

However desirable 1t may be in theory,
the realities of the moment argue power
fully against the proposal for prompt action
to organize Pacific Pact along the lines of
the North Atlantic Treaty.
The proposal-which has been advocated
by official spokesmen in countries as widely
separated as Australia and Korea and
which has been supported by some Ameri-
cans-may we'll deserve serious considera-
tion in another five years or so, but right
now, as practical matter, 1t just does not
seem TO make sense
To begin with, at this point in history
the Pacific area does not even remotely re-
semble the Atlantic community of nations
In terms OF internal order, the maturity of
long established democratic self-govern-
ment, homogeneity of population, common
cultural and political heritage, strategical
significance, or economic makeup and de-
velopment the two regions are self-evi-
IDENTIFY quite different from each other
Thus, whereas the signatories of the
North Atlantic Treaty form a rather COM
pact, orderly and natural unity with
long history jointly shared, the Pacific
area-apart from one or two exceptions
like Australia-is something else again.
Korea, for instance, after decades of Japa-
nese dominance, Is still an occupied coun-
try, with its southern half self-governing
under American protection but with its
north dominated by Russia's Communist
stooges. AS for China, the present convul-
sion speaks pretty much for itself The
Nationalists are in state of collapse The
Reds keep rolling on. And there is little we
can do about 1t at this time beyond impro-
vising whatever measures are possible TO
soften the situations impact on our own
security interests.
Further, to cite additional examples,
India and Pakistan are still in the process
OF adjusting themselves to their separation
and new independence And Indo- China
presents yet another picture. With the
Communists trying to take over the ma
tionalist movement, there exists there a
touch-and-go- situation in which the
French are belatedly attempting to work
out agreements that will save the country
from the Reds. Similar uncertainties pre-
vail in Siam, while In rich and strategically
vital 1ndonesia, the big question at this
juncture Is whether the Dutch and the
to settle their differences and arrive at q
cooperative and mutually friendly rela-
tionship that will endure.
Finally, as broad over all observation,
1t may be said that the Pacific area does
not now have genuine sense of regional
ism, or-so to Speak-a regional esprit de
corps. The Siamese and the Indonesians,
for example, or the Indians and Koreans.
certainly are not nearly so interested in
each others affairs and fortunes as are
the scandinavians, or the peoples of the
Benelux countries or the French and Brit
ish, or the members of the Atlantic COM
munity as a whole
In the circumstances, since the two
regions thus differ SO much-internally
and otherwise-it is not surprising that a
leader like Prime Minister Nehru of India
has publicly declared that the time is not
yet ripe for Pacific Pact fashioned after
the North Atlantic Treaty. Nor is 1t sur
prising that Secretary of State Acheson
has placed himself on record as agreeing
with Mr.. Nehru
What may be desirable, in short, is not
always possible. Fine as it may sound in
theory, downto-earth conditions make the
proposal for an all-inclusive Pacific Pact
Impractical as of now. Asiatic security ar
rangements must therefore be tailored ac-
cordingly-in keeping with the realities of
situation very much In flux.