Treatment for Exposure

As a result of Communist Viet Minh military successes in Indo-China, the kingdom of Thailand (Siam) has been thrust into one of the free world's most exposed positions. Although postwar U.S. aid, totaling more than $150 million under economic, military and Point Four programs, has poured into Thailand, the rate of buildup fell far short of what Thailand would need in the ominous near future to stop an invasion from China on the north or Indo-China on the east.

Last week, after spending a fortnight in Washington talking to Joint Chiefs Chairman Arthur Radford and other Pentagon officials, General Srisdi Dhanarajata, commander in chief of Thailand's army, announced that the U.S. had agreed to step up its military aid to his country. Among the items promised: more tanks, trucks, artillery, small arms, ammunition and other equipment; 25 jet aircraft; a $3,000,000, 297-mile military road; training of more Thai officers in the U.S.; enlargement of the 200-man U.S. Military Advisory Group in Thailand. For his part, bulky General Srisdi prepared to double the number of officers and noncoms in training, introduce a one-year officer's training program to supplement the present five-year curriculum, and increase his army to 100,000 strong from its present 65,000 (roughly equal to New Zealand's).

Further recognizing the new importance of Thailand's armed forces, Army Chief of Staff Matthew B. Ridgway conferred Legion of Merit medals on General Srisdi and his chief of staff, Lieut. General Jira Vichitsonggram. Then the Thailanders enplaned for Bangkok to build new, stronger dikes against the Red tide.

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