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Lee on Peril of Too Swift US Pullout

Mr Lee Kuan Yew yesterday came out strongly against too swift an American military retreat from Asia because this would let Russia in. He described China as "The more benign of the Communist powers" with no territorial ambitions on Thailand. But if Thailand used Russia "as a counter-weight to China it would bring about the very evil they seek to avoid, meaning more guerilla pressure". Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and Indonesia all had to contend with rebel groups, Mr Lee said, but he noted help from Vietnam would have to come across 500 to 700 mites of water. The main problem worrying these countries, he stressed, was economic because unemployment and recession would only feed popular discontent.