SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1966 THE MICHIGAN DAILY PAGE T SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1966 TUE MICHIGAN DAILY PAGE T Officials Worry as Thailand Terrorism Grows By WILLIAM L. RYAN AP special Correspondent Americans today eye Thailand with growing concern. Enough por- tents and parallels exist to evoke worry° that another edge of Southeast Asia could involve U.S. forces in a new war with Com- munist guerrillas in the pattern of Viet Nam. "We ought to know what we are getting into," said Chairman J. W. F'ulbright of the Senate For- eign Relations Committee recently. "Are we to have another Viet Nam war?" To inquire into the possibil- ities he announced his committee A soon will hold hearings on the U.S. commitment ,in Thailand. j Worry over Thailand's place in a Communist timetable dates back to the founding of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization in 1954, and has deepened considerably in the past two years. Two years ago the Communists, with the blessing and backing of Red China, announced formation in Thailand's impoverished north- east area of the "Thailand Inde- pendence Movement." In January, 1965, Chen Yi, Red China's vice premier and foreign minister, declared, "We may have a guerrilla war going in Thailand before the year is out." Days later, a Thai-language broadcast, pos- sibly emanating from China,'an- nounced establishment of a "Pa- triotic Front of Thailand." This was patterned after the National Front for Liberation of South Viet Nam, set up late in 1980 as the political arm of the Viet Cong. The Thai guerrilla movement is small, but in scale and technigue it is ominously similar to the Viet Cong movement of the 1959-1960 period. But-there are big differences in the two situations. Thailand, for the most part, is prosperous and stable. Its people, 90 percent Buddhist and far more united than the Vietnamese, on the whole dislike and distrust Communists and Chinese alike. Unlike Viet Nam, Thailand has a sturdy middle class and many of its peasants-80 percent of the population-are well off by South- east Asia standards. Unlike Viet Nam, Thailand never was colon- ized, never partioned. Since World War II it has been one of the staunchest allies of America in the Far East. Thailan's role in the Viet Nam war, as the site of bases whence U.S. planes take off, probably has made the ,country even more an attractive target for subversion and guerrilla tactics inspired and supported by the Red Chinese. Since early 1965, Communist ac- tivities in the northeast-suscept- ible to infiltration across the bor- der from an area of Laos held by the Communist Pathet Lao forces -have risen considerably. The Thai government says there were 35 assassinations of government representatives in the northeast in 1965 and more than twice that number thus far in 1966. Red Chi- na has broadcast a report that battles between government forces and guerrillas numbered 24 in 19- 65 and 43 in the first half of 1966. There are as many U.S. troops in Thailand as there were in Viet Nam early in 1965. The Pentagon has declined to disclose this figure. Unofficial estimates recently put it at 27,000 to 35,000. William P. Bundy, assistant Secretary of State, said last week the figure was 25,000, mostly Air Force units. That would represent more than twice the number there in early 1965. A U.S.-backed air and naval base complex has been enormously expanded. Last month, the U- Tapao airfield, built by the Ameri- cans in less than eight months, was turned over to Thai officials. This installation to the south of Bangkok has a field 11,500 feet long with 200-foot-wide runways, capable of accommodating the biggest U.S. bombers. It is 650 miles from Hanoi. Besides U-Tapao, built at a cost of $40 million, there are four oth- er U.S.-built jet air bases in Thailand. All have been turned over to the Thai government. There is little secret about the use of That bases in the Viet Nam war. As long agd as January, The Associated Press reported from Saigon that probably 60 percent of air strikes against North Viet Nam were taking off from Thai bases. With the U-Tapao base now avail- able, the percentage seems bound to rise. It should be far easier for B52 bombers to reach North Viet Nam from there than from Guam. At the enormous Sattahip naval base complex, 100 miles south of Bangkok, Americans are building a complete major port at a cost of about $90 million. When it is com- pleted within two years it will have deep-water berths, rock breakwaters, new fuel storage tanks, pipeline supply systems, improved port installations, ord- nance depots, telecommunications and supporting facilities. In addition, new roads with military meaning are being built in the country and existing trans- port routes are being upgraded. Military supplies which would be needed in the event of attack have been placed in forward positions. Thailand has had a military government, ruling in the name of the king, since 1958. There is some unrest about this particularly among intellectual elements who say they want more democracy, a new constitution and elections. The government under Prime Min- ister Thanom Kittikhachorn says the time is inappropriate because of Southeast Asia conditions and the Communist threat. The nation, about five-sixths the size of Texas with 31 million peo- ple, is in enviable condition apart from its northeast, so far as its economy and prospects are con- cerned. By government estimate, the guerrilla movement i s small. Bangkok says the Communist hard core amounts to no more than 1,500 in the northeast, operating in roaming bands of 80 to 100 men. To counter Red activity, the gov- ernment has instituted, with U.S. help, a civic action program in the northeast involving mobile de- velopment units, police training in counterinsurgency and estab- lishment of a government presence in an area neglected for years by Bangkok. The Americans have provided $35 million for this pro-. gram. Communism has never caught on in Thailand. The Thai Com- munist party, formed in 1946, was made up mostly of overseas Chi- nese, of whom Thailand has four million. Like overseas Chinese pressures from Red Chinese agents. The Communist party was outlaw- ed and went underground in 1952. But infiltration in the northeast and central parts of the country by Lao and Thai-stock people, and of Malay-stock people in the ex- treme south, is easy. Underground radio broadcasts boast of "a vio- lent counteroffensive" to over- throw the Thanom government. In comparison with other South- east Asia countries, Thailand is thriving. Its annual growth rate reached a record 10.6 percent in 1963 and leveled off thereafter at 6.3. Its 1965 gross national pro- duct was 80.2 billion baht-$4 bil- lion. Real output rose between 19- 61 and 1965 by 7.5 percent each year. Real income per person was 25 percent higher this year than in 1957. Export earnings grow steadily. So do agricultural surpluses, main- ly rice, making the country an Asian rice basket. U.S. officials in Thailand say they operate on the theory that if the United States provides the tools, the Thais themselves will do the job of combatting Red sub- version. 500,000 Troops Guard Polls 'ALL OR NOTHING': Rights Bill Appears Doomed For Election in South Viet Nam Terrorist Bomb Kills One Civiian Communist, Neutralist Voters Excluded as Buddhists Boycott SAIGON, UP) - Amid terrorist grenade explosions and a mingling of pep rallies, millions of war- weary South Vietnamese voters went to the polls today to elect 108 delegates to a new national constituent assembly. About 500,000 troops, police, and militiamen guarded 5,238 polling places against Viet Cong attacks. Exploding grenades in Saigon kill- ed one and wounded at least 28 others. Although a handful of generally illiterate voters were aware of it the prestige of President Johnson was on the line. In.effect the election is a popu- larity contest, between Gen. Ngu- yen Cao Ky's government and the Viet Cong. The contest will be de- cided by the number of voters who actually go to the polls in defiance of the Viet Cong terror campaign. Premier Ky said if 60 percent of the eligible 5,288,512 voters go to the polls he would consider the election a success. However, Vice-President Hubert H. Humphrey set theJohnson ad-, ministration's target by predicting' 75 pr cent of the voters would cast ballots. The elected assembly will con-. vene two weeks after the election and have six months to write a new constitution. The military' government has retained veto power, but the Assembly can over- rule a veto by two-thirds vote. Practically no political parties are represented in the election. All, Communists and neutralists were excluded and the minority Uni- fled Buddhist Church is boycott- ing the election.j Many among the 530 candidates, are critical of Ky, the Air Force commander, and other military officers who have run this countryj for 14 months. They are neither Communists nor Buddhist radicals, but disap- pointed and disillusioned men who see little difference between the: premier's promises and those of his predecessors. IMost Voters Confused WASHINGTON (M)-Administra- tion determination to lets its 1966 civil rights bill sink or swim on a hotly disputed open housing sec- tion heightened prospects yester- day that the measure will sink. Senate Democratic Leader Mike Mansfield of Montana said Atty. Gen. Nicholas Katzenbach has made it clear to the leadership that a bill without an open hous- ing provision would not be ac- ceptable. Mansfield said in an interview Katzenbach set forth the admini- stration position Friday in a talk with him and Sen. Everett M. Dirksen. the Republican leader from Illinois. Even before the White House stand became known, a captain of Souther forces opposing the whole bill predicted the admin- istration "will throw in the towel to obtain Senate approval of the next week" and abandon efforts House-passed measure this year. Sen. Allen J. Ellender, D-La.. said racial disorders in the North have killed the bill's chances and the administration actually "has lost interest in it." "President Johnson," Ellender said in an in- terview, "is beginning to take note of what's happening in the coun- try." As passed by the House. the bill would provide a ban on racial discrimination in the sale and rental of private housing except owner-occupied dwellings and small apartments. The Senate moved to take up the week the lack of a quorum of the bill last Monday but through~ 51 senators repeatedly forced the chamber to adjourn. As a result, a well-planned-Southern filibuster to prevent a vote never really got going. But it is this prospective fili- buster that has administration leaders stymied. -Associated Press A SMALL GROUP OF BUDDHIST demonstrators protest against today's government election in South Viet Nam. The group was assembled outside the U.S. embassy in Saigon. World News Roundup But Hopeful Sampling Indicates High Turnout Likely; Issues Not Clearcut DA NANG, South Viet Nam (P) -"I think he is a good man, and if he will do what he says he will do, things should get better." That is a more-or-less typical Vietnamese voter speaking. A survey of farmers, shopkeep, ers and housewives indicates that the Vietnamese voter in this area is often like voters in many other countries. The sampling also indi- cates almost everyone will vote. The voter is uncertain of the issues and skeptical of promises but still hopes the outcome will mean a brighter future. It was a watch repairman tink- ering with a cheap clock who said he hoped his favorite would keep his promises. "They-the candidates-can say much, but who can tell what they will do?" he asked. A 21-year-old sergeant in the Vietnamese air force had a special yardstick to measure his candi- date: "This man hates the Viet Cong-he will fight them." He added he expected Commun- ist guerrillas to try and disrupt the election but "they will fail so badly it will show to the world how the people hate them." The voters will select a 117-man assembly to write arconstitution. However, many voters feel they will be electing a regular legisla- tive assembly. "I didn't know the difference and it is difficult to find the right answer," said a calloused farmer from Quang Ngai 11 . it B'ani B'rith Hillel Foundafion announces HIGH HOLIDAY SERVICES 11 Os follows i. In Rackham Lecture Hall Auditorium ROSH HASHANA Sept. 14, Wednesday evening, 7:30 P.M.* Address: Prof. Abraham Kaplan "Between Mar and Man" Sept. 15 and 16, Thursday and Friday, 9 A.M. YOM KIPPUR Sept. 22, Friday evening Kol Nidre, 7 P.M.* Address: Prof. Philip J. Elving ... That We May Search Our Ways" *At these two services, seats are reserved for affiliated until a half hour before service starts. ', By The Associated Preis TOKYO-Thousands of Chinese Red Guards summoned to Peking to help carry out Mao Tze-tung's cultural revolution purge are hurrying back to their home dis- tricts to spread the revolution to the masses, Peking's New China News Agency said last night. "They have organized teams, groups and stations to carry out propaganda work on a wide scale," the broadcast dispatch said. "They have handed out leaflets, pasted up slogans and made broadcasts in the streets to popu- larize the decision to the revolu- tionary masses." CHICAGO - Six persons were injured and George Lincoln Rock- well was arrested yesterday as 125 American Nazi party members and sympathizers were greeted with isolated incidents on a march through a Negro neighborhood. Negroes threw rocks and bottles at passing white motorists a block from the march after the proces- sion passed. * * * two top executives predicted yes- terday that auto business will con- tinue strong in 1967, although slightly below this year's sales. Chairman Frederic G. Donner and President James M. Roche estimated that retail auto sales in the United States this year would total about 9.1 million cars, in- cluding imports., "If the expansion of the econ- omy continues with consumer con- fidence maintained' at a higher level, total new passenger car sales can be expected to approximate closely the current model year record, in the area of nine million units," they said. * * CAPE KENNEDY, Fla.-Gemini 11's two eager pilots suffered a second frustrating delay yesterday, this time untilrMonday, in their attempt to soar skyward for a~ challenging satellite hunt and space walk journey. With familiar suddenness, trou- ble struck at the last minute-in the automatic pilot system of the mission's Atlas - Agena t a r g e t rocket. members II REFORM STUDENTS are invited, as usual, to worship with HILLEL, as above, or with the, new Congregation, Eempte Beth Emeth, at the Unitarian Church, 1917 Washtenow Ave. on Sept. 14 and 23 at 8:15 p.m., on Sept. 15 and 24 at 10 a.m. It I mmm r Cien uiki P*eent4 "THE LONELINESS OF THE LONG DISTANCE RUNNER". (dir. Tony Richardson-1962) English. Starring Tom Courtney and Michael Redgrave. Tony Richardson, director of Tom Jones, in a bitter, biting study of the physical and emotional confusion of adolescence. GILBERT' & SULLIVAN Mass Meeting DETROIT - General Motors BEGINNING A SERIES for Saturday & Sunday Architecture Aud. 50c Examining "The Great Society" EVERY MONDAY NOON LUNCH BUFFET 25c This Monday: IRAJ MAIDEVI Dept. Political Science, Iranian Intellectual Next Monday: FRITHJOF BERGMANN Dept. of Philosophy ArMrr !I t H.M.S. PINAFORE I END THE WAR IN VIET NAM Public meeting to establish an Ad Hoc Group To run a Write-in Peace Candidate Sunday, Sept. 11I 7:30 p.m. For U.S. Congress in the ill I i 0