Considering SEATO's military status, most people will probably think that it hasn't done much since its establishment. But it is only fair to say that since its organization at the end of 1954, it has put a stop to open aggression by the Chinese Communists in Asia. If it is as yet a loosely knit structure, it nevertheless stands for a moral influence, a desire on the part of its members to put a stop to Communist expansion. It has but little armed forces under its command, but the members of the organization can put up a mighty show of force if they care to do so. Therefore, though the Communists fully realize its imperfection and weakness, they know better than to test its strength.
But with the Communists, open warfare is but one of the ways of aggression. In the last two years, though they have left the SEATO countries alone, they concentrated their efforts at infiltrating and subverting the governments of Laos and Cambodia, both of which countries are vital to the defense of Southeast Asia against Communist attacks. Both countries are now in a more precarious position vis a vis the Communists than they were two years ago, when SEATO began to function. The same thing is true with Indonesia which is being dragged rapidly into the Communist orbit. If these countries, Laos, Cambodia, and Indonesia should be converted into Communist satellites, the position of the Asian members of SEATO would be greatly jeopardized.
From the SEATO point of view, therefore, something must be done not only to strengthen its structure and to enlarge its membership but also to put teeth to it so as to give protection not only to its members but also to countries which are too weak to raise their voice against the Communists or too disorganized to take effective steps against Communist infiltration and subversion. These are heavy responsibilities, but they are responsibilities which SEATO should not seek to evade.
On the other hand, from the point of view of the individual nations whom SEATO is contemplating to invite, the greatest menace to their security comes from the Communists, especially those under the Peiping regime who act as the cat's paw for their Russian masters. What can be more fitting, therefore, than that these nations should pool their strength with SEATO? If it is felt that SEATO is not the kind of anti-Communist organization they want, changes can be made after joining. In short, though SEATO has done its level best in checking Communist expansion in Asia, it needs new blood to make it more effective, and active anti-Communist nations such as China and Korea are the answers to its prayers. So this should be the right time to change SEATO into ATO.