PM Transcripts

INCREASED AID TO VIET NAM
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, MR. H. AROID1=-T&
FOR RADIO AND TV 9TH ? MCH. 1966
Mr. Caiwell's proposal for a referendum in relation to
the despatch of National Servicemen to South Viet Nam I think reflects
a misunderstanding of what is proposed.
He hearks back to the quite dissimilar situation which
existed in the First and Second World Wars. There people enlisted for
service for an indefinite period of years and in the result, many were
absent from Australia for a number of years. But our National
Servicemen have a two-year term of duty. Most of them will have been
under training for the best part of twelve months before they are
moved to South Viet Nam and the term of duty there would be in the
neighbourhood of a twelve months' tour of duty; that is the period
which would have been served approximately by our present battalion
there before it is relieved, and this would be in contemplation for
the Task Force which we have decided to send to South Viet Nam. And
so on return from service there, many of our National Servicemen would
be very close to the conclusion of their two-year term of duty or would
actually have passed beyond that point, and they could only be
extended beyond that point by their own decision. So that the
situation is scarcely comparable.
Now, I would hope that this service can be seen in its
true perspective in view of the explanations that I have given. We
felt that the despatch of the Task Force was the most effective
military contribution that Australia can make at this time. We are
assured by our military advisers that it would be the most effective.
It is the smallest force that we can despatch which could function
effectively as a completely serviced Australian unit under Australian
command, and there is great advantage in having a unified Australian
command, our own body of men responding to Australian leadership and
giving Australia an identifiable role in this conflict.
The episode which has involved Gunner O'Neill is, of
course, an unfortunate one which has given me personally a good deal
of concern. I am easier in my mind now that I know that a very
distinguished and able military leader in the person of the Chief
of Staff, Lieutenant-General Wilton, has been personally giving his
attention to the matter, and I '-Jould most certainly hope that this
episode should not be allowed to blur the splendid image which has
been established in Australia and indeed throughout the world by our
forces in Viet Num.