PRESS CONFERENCE GIVEN BY THE PRIME MINISTER,
MR. HAROLD HOLT, FOR MEMBERS OF THE PARLIAMENTARY
PRESS GALLERY. AT PARLIAMENT HOUSE,
CANBERRA. 21ST APRIL. 1966
Q. Can yuu tell us Sir, whether you are goino to make
any statement today, before you P-o away, on the call-up
of aliens for National ervice?
MR. HOLT: Well I can rrive you some comment on both those
matters the alien call-up and the question of the votinace.
I can rive you comment in the sense that work hae been
proceeding but no cinality has been reached. On the voting
aspect, Cabinet has considered the matter and has come to a
view which it wishes to discuss with its own party room
supporters. It is clearly desirable to have the widest area
of aoreement 6n a matter of this sort and I would expect to
be in a position to take this up with members of the Government
parties shortly after my return.
On the alien matter, I did indicate a general view of
my own in the House some time ap-o, and at the same time said
that there were some complications about the matter arisinp
from our international relationships and practice on these
matters between countries. Work has been proceedino at
Departmental level. There has been some further consideration
on it in Cabinet, but at the moment we are awaitinp, the outcome
of discussions which have been takinp place through our
Department of External Affairs and some of the countries which
would be affected so far as their nationals are concerned,
if the Government were to proceed with a scheme alcng these
lines. I was told when I last enquired that there would
probably be three or four weeks of time involved in bringing
this matter to a sufficientl advanced sta-e for Cabinet t2
have another look at it. But we shall press on with it when
the information reaches us.
Q. Any particular countries heavily involved overseas
countries?
MR. HOLT: Well, I think most of you know where our main sources
of migsration come from. It is not difficult to list them.
Q. Any indicating any opposition?
MR. HOLT: Well I am not well enough informed on it myself to
comment on that at this sta-e and I don't think it desirable
to make piecemeal comment about it. When we are in a position
to say firmly what the policy is to be and what problems, if
any, persist with that, I shall do so. I would hope that it
will be possible te do this before the end of the Session.
Q. Mr. Prime Minister, reparts have been floating around
that the United Stsites Government has consulted Australia on
the possible bombing of Hamoi, and the reports say also that
we have told imerica at this staoe that we are not very keen
on it. / 2
-2-
MR. HOLT Well, as I said in the House the other day no
particular sirnificance should be read into this in relation
to the matter you've mentioned that there are virtually daily
exchanges between Australian Governmental representatives at
some level or other in relation to some aspect or other of the
conflict in Viet Nam. I don't think it is desirable to make
running comments on the substance of these discussions. We
are both involved in military operations in the area and
naturally, matters of a tactical kind or a strategic kind
are discussed from time to time between us, and I don't want
to get into a practice of commenting on possible tactical
moves which mip& ht be made in the military field. But the
President of the United States has stated quite emphatically
that it is not the intention of the United States Government
to destroy the economy of North Viet Nam or to prevent it
from maintaining a viable existence and we have supported
that view. I have said this publicly myself.
Q. Can you say what our attitude is to the bombing
of Hanoi, Sir? Do we elieve in it or don't we?
MR. HOLT: No, I'm not Poins to comment because your question
has to be read against the background of what has been said
about our objectives. Our objectives are not to destroy the
economy, the livelihood of the people of Hanoi or to prevent
North Viet Nam continuinP as an economic entity.
Some of you were interested, I understand, as to
whether I would be participating in the Queensland elections,
and I can tell you quite firmly that at the invitation of
the members of my own party in Queensland the Parliamentary
party and the eryanisation I have arreed to participate.
I did have a talk with Mr. Nicklin about this before finally
making up my mind on it, and he made it clear to me that I
would be welcome so far as he was concerned,
Q. Mr. Prime Minister, your talk with the Indonesian
Ambassador yesterday has aroused some interest. I wonder if
you would care to tll us what your hopes are for closer
relations and also for the removal of the points at issue?
MR. HOLT Well, I had a very friendly talk with the
Indonesian Ambassador. He was gracious enough to express on
behalf of his Government very warm appreciation for Aujtralia's
gesture in pivine some assistance recently at the time of the
floods in Java and it is quite apparent from what he said
that the promptness with which Australia acted and the
genuine frienaliness behind the move on our part was received
with pleasure and appreciation by the people of Indonesia.
We both expressed the hope that the relationship between eur
two countries would improve in the period ahead. He made it
clear to me that I would be welcome in his country if I found
an opportunity to visit it. It was known to us both that,
havinr regard to the timetable and the fact that I was
limitinp my visit on this occasion to those countries in which
Australian serricemen were stationed, this would not be an
opportune or practicable time from my point of view. But
we had a very cordial discussion and I know that his Government
is well aware that Australia has a continuing desire to
maintain a course of friendship with Indonesia. We look to
a future in which there will be practical opportunities for
us to develop, not only mutually advantageous relations but
mutually advantageous trade, and for our part in Australia,
we regret the continuance of the policy o confrontation which
hinders the full development of this relationship.
Q. Was there any invitation to go to Indonesia, Sir,
or vice versa?
IVIR. HOLT: I didn't interpret the discussion as a specific
invitation to visit Indonesia in the course of this visit
but I don't think any particular significance should be
read into that. It was well knowTn tohim that my opportunities
were limited, that the timetable had been fixed. But he
did, I repeat, make it clear that I would be welcome if I
found it practicable in the future to make a visit, and I
would hope to do so.
Q. Have we a standing invitation to Sukarno to come here?
MR. HOLT: I understand there was an invitation..........
Q. Would you be ready to go when the time was suitable?
MR. HOLT: I am always ready to travel in the service of the
nation where it can be of value to Australia, and I vould so
regard a visit to Indonesia, but this is not within the realm
of present planning. I also have a desire to visit, of
course, the Philippines and Taiwan and other countries in
the area of particular interest to Australia, but
opportunities have not so far arisen.
Q. Japan, Sir?
MR. HOLT: dell I have had two visits in recent years to Japan
but, of course, a country of such importance to Australia
would certainly call for frequent exchanges of visits from
Heads of Government or senior ministers of the governmnt.
Q. Sir, just to complete the Queensland election answ: rer.
Do you know cxactly ahen you hope to go there and where
MR. HOLT: I understand they are planning a couple of meetings
in or around Brisbane, one in Brisbane itself, one at
Ipsvich and another meeting in North Queensland, probably
Townsville. This would be on the Thursday and Friday of
the week prior to the final week of the carpaign, whenever
that is.
Q. WYould you hope to go to Bingil Bay?
MR. HOLT: Don't put temptation in my path. It is getting
awfully close in relative terms when you got up that far.
This would depend on what der-ands there are on me down hero
at that time, but I suppose even a Prime Minister is
entitled to have a weekend off some time. If not off, at
least, someplace that is agreeable to him.
Q. There is still some speculation, Sir, that there
will be a snap election follouiing your forthcoming visit.
MR. HOLT: Well I don't think that is terribly sensible ' 1,! hen
regard is had to the fact that there is an election in
Quconsland. Vie don't like having overlap ing elections
in this country. The word " snap" I don't think you
can have an election undc-r five or six fecks from the time
that you announce that you are going. / 4
Q. On the matter of visits, if I could just refer to them.
Is there any intention of holding a Prime IMinister's
Conference in London this year, do you know?
MR. HOLT: Well, I am not able to speak with any authority on
that. Arising from the Lagos Conference, there was, as I
recall it, an expressed intention of having some further
meeting to discuss issues which had been raised ther~ e in
July in London, but whether that was a firm. arrangement or
not, I am unable to say. I imagine that Mr. W rilson, with
an election to be faced himself, was keeping his own mind
fairly open as to what should. be the planning thereafter.
I am not in a position to give any definite informa. tion.
Q. SiDo you propose to go to London in the winter recess,
MR. HOLT: Well, that-is a strong possibility but it will be
affected perhapsb. 6he auestion of a Prime Ministers'
Conference and it could be affected by the course of events
in Australia, but I think it is clearly desirable that there
should not be too delayed an opportunity taken to contact
the leaders of governments of such importance to Australian
interest, and the United Kingdom and the United States
certainly stand in that category. President Johnson has
been good enough to indicate to me that ho would very much
like to see me there and this would, of course, be considered
in any planning I might do for overseas Journeying later
in the year. Incidentally, while on that, I had a visit
yesterday from the Ambassador for India who conveyed tome
a fomal invitation from the Govcrnment of India
You mean the High Commissioner.
MR. HOLT: Yes, I'm sorry, the lligh Commissioner to visit
that country and this, of course, will also be a matter of
considerable interest and value, but I can't see the
opportunity arising in the early future. I took the
opportunity on behalf of the Government to issue -at the
same time a most cordial invitation to the Prime Minister
of India to visit Australia wihenever that mnight seem
practicable to Mvrs. Gandhi.
On the French nuclear tests, Sir, has Australia given
landing rights to French military planes to fly across
Australian territory?
M. HOLT: I would like to refer you on the detail of that to
Senator Gorton. The matter was raised and there were
certain assurances given, I understand, .1hich were regarded
as satisfactory by our adviscr3 in the External Affairs
field and by the MAinis ter, but I don't claim to be abreast
of the detail on it.
Q. Broadly, we do let them, Sir, subject to those
conditi ons?
Mk~. HOLT. This was the arrangement, as I understand it. / 2
Mr. whitlam, Sir, wants you to release Gunner O'Neill.
from the unpleasant predicament in which he now finds himself.
Are you likely to be sympathetic?
MR. HOLT: I am sympathetic to most of my fellow men. Many of us
run into trouble of one kind or another at some sta,-e of our
lives, but I did say in the House yesterday that I would
examine this matter with my collearues, the Minister for
Defence and the Minister for the Army. I have raised the
matter with the Minister for Defence and it is currently
receiving his consideration, and no doubt he will in turn be
in consultation with the Minister for the Army, but these are
matters in which a great deal of weight must be given to the
view of the Service people who themselves know the situation
in their own Service and the conditions which give rise to
good order and discipline needed to sustain morale. We
would, of course, be very much influenced by their judgment
after our own dispassionate examination of the facts.
Q. Sir, do you wish to say something about your trip today?
MR. HOLT: Iell, I think you know the details. I will be in the
House until the end of Question Time. It will be a quick
journey from there. We have had to use the Civil Aviation
plane to catch the 12 o'clock aircraft leaving Mascot, so
assuming the fog has lifted there there was some fog there
this morning, I understand I shall, because of the time
factor, just go from one aircraft to the other. That's one
reason why we are meeting you people here this morning.
It won't be practicable to do that in Sydney. I have on
board with me several of the official party the Chief of
the General Staff, the Chairman-designato of the Chiefs
of Staff Committee, General Wilton, will meatus in Perth,
and we proceed from there to Singapore. Tomorrow morning,
I think it is, we set off for Saigon from Singapore, so
that by lunch-time tomorrow wo should be right in the heart
of the matter.
Q. Sir, the W. A. Premier after his recent talks with you
suggested that he expected a decision on the Ord this session.
Ib you think this would still. lld?
MR. HOLT: Well, I would have thought that this was one of the
matters that would be considered in a Budgetary context
so that it would be a matter considered not later than in
a Budgetary context...
Q. So you would suggest little hope of seeing it this
Session?
MR. HOLT: Vell, I don't think that adds up to anything much.
It has to be a Budgetary matter, so even if a decision wore
taken on it beforehand assuming it were a favourable
decision you would have to mako some Budgetary provision
for it, There is no desire on our part to delay consideration
of it. It may well be that Cabinet will be looking at it
ahead of the Budgot but this matter is currently in the hands
of the AMinister for National Development and when ho brings
it to Cabinet is a matter which at this stage is in his hands.
e../ 6
Q. Will you be officially meeting Premier Ky in
Viet Nam?
MR. HOLT: Oh, yes.
Q. Do you think this could be taken by the Vietnamese
as a sort of de facto interference in their internal
politics.
MR. HOLT: ~ ell I would most certainly hope not and I would make
it quite clear in my own statemens, if that seemed necessary,
that this was not so. I have made it abundantly clear,
I would have hoped, and this would ? have been reported in
Saigon and other capitals which I shall be visiting that
the principal purpose of my visit is to make contact with
Australian Servicemen in the field, and to dcvcloo in this
way a more intimate awareness of their problems and the
conditions under which they are tc serve. But quite
obviously, it is desirable when visiting thse countries,
to take such opportunities as I can find of talking to
people who are either the Heads of Government or in a
position of authority in the Service or governmental field.
The other aspect which must not be overlooked is that
Australia is increasiinly and this is how it is seen in
the eyes of the countries we shall be visiting a
country giving assistance in a variety of forms; not merely
military assistance as we are in respect of , Mlaysia and
Singapore and South Viet Nam, but technical assistance and
material assistance through the Colombo Plan and other
agencies, a major contribution to the about-to-bc-formed
Devolopment Bank for Asia. In these and other ways, Australia
looms fairly large in the eyes of the people of these
countries, the more so because so frequently our assistance
is related to personalities who go there to do a job for
Australia and it is quite heart-warming to find how well
they are received, what a splendid impression they make.
I don't know if any of you saw a documentary recently on
Cambodia in w hich a motor repair shop run by a couple of
Australians was one of the popul: ar features of the industrial
life of the place. They had been given a mass of buses of
various kinds from various countries. You know, the large
volume of aid from countries like Russia, the United States
and elsewhere. But nobody knew how to make the buses run
if anything went wrong with them and our boys have been
training people there and doing a very good job and in the
process apparently making a lot of friends for Australia.
When the Prime Minister . f Thailand ,; as here, he was telling
me of the technical training school that we have established
in his country, designed for peopo. L" g. oing into the Services,
but has become so -wll and favourably knovnthat apparently
employers bombard the place and popleo who are being trained
to lure them away before they -ver got to the army, but at
least the economy of the country derives some benefit from
this. W1ell, I think that is about all.
Good luck, Sir'