Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-09-19
'SEATO Opens
BangkokParley
Despite Coup

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10 (R.-Military advisers Of the
Southeast Asia Treaty Organi-
zation met here today despite
this weeks coup that toppled
pro- Western Premier p. Pibui-
songgram.
The conference program will
be the same, only the hosts will
be different" said q spokesman
for Marshal Sarit Thanarat,
armed forces chief who seized
power Monday.
Although rumored to be anti
SEATO. Marshal Shrit had de-
clared he would continue Thai
lands close cooperation with
the anti-C Communist alliance
and said he wanted to keep
|SEATO's permanent headquar-
tiers In Bangkok.
Plans for the advisers meet
ing had been drawn up long be-
fore the blOOdless coup that put
Marshal sarit in power.
King OKs Sarit Move
Conference delegates in
clude Admiral Felix Stump,
Pacific feet commander, for
the United States. SEATO
members in addition to Thai
land and the United States are
Australia, France, New Zealand,
Pakistan, The Philippines and
Britain.
King Phumiphon Aduldet
last night put a legal okay on
Marshal Sarit's assumption Of
control. naming him military
custodian Of Bangkok. The
order said Marshal Sarit would
serve In that position until a
new cabinet is named. There
was no indication when that
step might be taken.
The King also dissolved the
old parliament and appointed
l23 new representatives. They
win serve until new elections
are held within three months.
Recommendations from Mar
shall Sarit's ruling military
junta determined the Kings
selections About 30 per cent
OF the new appointees are be-
lieved to be FOLLOWERS from
the last parliament. The old
assembly had 2e3 members, Of
whom 100 were elected.
Mr.. Pibulsonggram's govern-
ment party won only q slim
majority in the general elec-
tons held In February and !
political unrest had mounted
steadily since that time.
The ofiicial decree issued by.l
King Phumiphon also said the !
1882 constitution would remain |
IN effect.
Marshal Sarit. meanwhile, |
sought to persuade Mr.. Pibul-
songgram, Premier for 10 years, |
to return to Bangkok.
Cambodia granted Mr.. Pibul- |
songgram temporary political |
asylum today. He was due in the |
Cambodian town Of Koh Kong |
with two aides. He Is believed |
heading for Saigon. South Wet |
Nam. where he may announce |
his future plans.
The army radio, controlled |
by Marshal Sarit. appealed to
the fallen Premier to return, |
assuring him that no personal |
harm would result.
He can run for the next |
Parliament II he wishes" said |
1t. Gen. Surajit Charuseran, !
acting deputy chief Of stan.
Split i'm Triumvirate
Mr.. PibuIsonggram. Marshal |
Sartt and Gen. Phao Sriyanond |
made up q strongman trio that |
welded the actual political |
control in Thailand during Mr. |
Pibulsonggram's tenure as Pre- |
mier.
The triumvirate split after |
Mr.. Pibulsonggram last month
ordered his cabinet members !
to sever their private business |
connections or resign.
Gen. Phao surrendered to
Marshal Sarit's military rule
after Mondays coup and left
the country. He arrived in
Switzerland yesterday.
At Rome, en- route to Geneva.
Gen. Phao said he did not like
Marshal Sarit and would not
be q member Of his govern
ment. He added that he was
taking q voluntary vacation
OF q month and will then return
to Thailand." He said, how
ever, he would not return as
police chief.
I've retired" he said.