Published by:   The Pacific Studies Center,
East Palo Alto, California
August 3, 1969
Vol. I. No. 1.
The LIS. Military and Economic Invasion of Thailand
With Senator Fulbright's recent announcement
of his discovery of a "secret agreement for the
support of Thailand"   signed in 1965, the possibility of Vietnam-style U.S. intervention in Thailand
can no longer be dismissed.   The agreement, which
is "broader than the SEATO treaty under which the
U.S. has 47, 000 troops in Thailand",    gives substance to President Nixon's recent pledge to the
Thai military government that "the United States
will stand proudly with Thailand against those vdio
might threaten it from abroad or from withiji. "
Faced with the Vietnam war, a civil war in
Laos, and the development of multiple guerrilla
fronts inside Thailand, the U.S. has moved tens of
thousands of airmen and troops into Thailand.   At
the same time U.S. and other foreign corporations,
riding the soft cushion of the Thai foreign investment laws, are entering the country at an astonishing rate.   This article presents a brief survey of
these developments concentrating on the economic
impact of the U.S. military presence, the growing
investments of American corporations, and the development of revolutionary fronts in the Thai
countryside.   Future issues of Pacific Research
will deal with these and related issues individually
and in greater depth.
***********
Bases
In recent years Thailand,'s rate of growth has
been impressive, at least on paper.   The GNP
(in constant 1962 prices) increased 6.0% in 1961,
8.8% in 1965,  11.1% in 1966,  4.9% in 1967,  and
8.0% in 1968.     U.S. expenditures related to the
Vietnam war account for most of this growth--the
Chase Manhattan Bank Economic Research Division
notes that "U.S. military spending has been a
prime factor in propelling the economy."
Most of the $2 billion the U.S. has plowed into
Thailand since 1965 has been military spending,
much of it to support tlïe 47, 000 U.ffc airmen and
troops stationed at at least eleven "Thai" bases.
(Don Muang Airport,  Nakhon Phanom Airport,
Korat Air Base /Headquarters of the Ninth U.S.
Logistic Command/ Takhli Air Base, Udon Air
Field, U Tapao Air Base,  Ubon Air Field, Nam
Phong Air Base, Chiand Mai Air Base, Khpn Kaen
Air Base, and the Sattahip Port Complex.    /See
mag/   Facilities are now being planned for 50, 000
more troops.   )
One direct result of the U.S. military presence
is the rapid growth in the tourist industry.   Bangkok is a favorite rest  and recreation city for
American GI's on leave—25% of its hotel rooms
are taken by U.S. soldiers.     The Export-Import
Bank is currently financing two new hotels, the
$2. \ million Rama Hilton and the Si million Sheraton.
Contents
1 The U.S.  Military and Economic Invasion of
Thailand   (Map- page ;?)
6 Indonesia: The Making of a Neo-Colonv
17.. .. International Industrial Conference: Festival
of the Fiends
19 IIC Policy Board Members
21... .Book Notes- German Revisionism and the
Nazi Seizure of Power