THE SIX STUDIES in this volume present SEATO (the South East Asia Treaty Organization) from a number of vantage points, and each study is to be regarded as a self-contained analysis of a selected topic. But they have one common denominator: they all conceive of SEATO as a Western great power arrangement for the small states of South-East Asia. On this view, the first three studies describe the place the small countries occupy within SEATO and the services it offers them; the others analyse the policies of China and India, two of the large states outside the organiza tion, and the role of the great powers in Asian trade relationships.
A group study of the South-East Asia Treaty Organization was initiated by Professor L. C. Webb in the Department of International Relations, Research School of Pacific Studies of The Australian National University in January 1958; it became known as the SEATO project. Three members of the Department, Dr G. Modelski, Mr G. Boyd, and Mrs R. Brissenden, gave a large share of their time to the project; Dr W. Hogan, of Newcastle University College, maintained, close touch with it. In numerous discussions, drafts and working papers were submitted to the criticism of other members of the Department. Mrs J. Broomfield assisted with the final preparing of the manuscript for publication. Mr H. E. Gunther of the Department of Geography pre pared the two maps in this volume. Some of the earlier results of work, which included library research in Canberra and field-work in South East Asia, appeared in a number of articles; the editors of Australian Outlook and the Australian Journal of Politics and History have kindly consented to the further use of material published in their journals. The present volume, however, is the principal outcome of the project.