Evening star., 1962-05-27
DATELINE BANGKOK
Rays of Optimism
Seen in Wet Nam
BY DON HUTH
Associated Press staff Writer

Associated Press SValA WElteE
BANGKOK, May 26. - The
United States has laid more
of its cards on the table to keep
Southeast Asia from going
Communist.
There is little betting either
way whether President Ken
nedy's new approach to this
critical area of Asia will sue
ceed.
The United States has put
5000 troops into T1ailand, close
to the Laos border. Not all
officials agree that this show
of force was necessary. since
recent Communist advances in
Laos apparently were not
aimed at q complete takeover.
There is some speculation that
the military move in Thailand
disturbed the balance in Laos,
where the United States Is
seeking a negotiated settlement
based on the formation OF q
truly neutral government.
Supporters of President Ken
nedy's decision say the move
was necessary to show the
Communists that Laos-if it
cannot be kept from their hands
lis not to become launching
point for further military and
subversive moves into Southeast
Asia,
Another Link in Gordon
United States troops in Thai
land appear destined to be here
for some considerable time.
They add another link IN the
American military Gordon fac
ing the giant Communist China
to the north. I
The United States moves in
Thailand may spark a settle
ment in Laos but there are |
wide gaps of disagreement
among the Lao factions. The
outlook for keeping Laos in the
pro-Western camp is dismal.
The Communists virtually con-
troll the northern part Of the
country. The chances OF a really
neutralist governments sue
ceeding are slim. Yet the Ken |
nedy administrations approach
to the problem may be the best
left open to it.
If there is any reason Tor
cautious optimism from the
Vests viewpoint, it is in South
Wet Nam. There the line Is
clearly drawn-to wipe out the
Communist Wet Cong and bull
wark President Ngo Dinh Diem
economically.
Training Has Effect
The effect of military aid
and of the guerilla warfare
training by American advisors
is beginning to be felt. Success
will have to be measured in
years, as in the 12-year cam
paign against the Communists
in Malaga. The war will end
when the Wet Cong have been
eliminated or pushed into Com
munist North Wet Nam.
Economic recovery in South
Wet Nam is not keeping pace
with the military buildup. Un-
less it is accelerated, the real
benefits of the military CAM
paign will not be realized.
In another sector the United
States is attempting to mediate
the West New Guinea dispute
with little success so far.
War drums beat in Jakarta
while Indonesian infiltrators
parachute into New Guinea.
The Dutch have resisted the in
truders and strengthened their
defenses.
Indonesian President Sukar-
no faces a prodigious task to
carry out his promise of "lib-
Grating" New Guinea before
the first cock crows next year.
Full War Doubted
If a full-scale war develops
and there is doubt that Mr..
Sukarno, beset by economic
problems at home, is ready to
go this fart would seriously
upset United States efforts to
maintain the lines it has drawn
in Southeast Asia to check
Communist encroachment.
The Indonesians have Rus
sian and other Communist sup
port in the fight for New