PM Transcripts

PRIME MINISTER'S TOUR OF SOUTH-EAST ASIA
The Prime Minister, Mr. Harold Holt, gave
a dinner to return hospitality extended to
him during his visit to Saigon. The Prime
Minister of South Viet Nam Air Vice-Marshal
Ky, was the principal guest. 24TH APRIL, 1966
Mr. Holt said I would like to thank you again, Mr. Prime Minister,
for the warm welcome which you and members of your Government
have given me during my visit. I will leave Viet Nam with a
lasting impression of The courtesies and kindnesses which I have
received as your guest.
May I say also that this visit has been of great value
for the discussions we have conducted together and the information
I have gathered at first hand here.
As you know, Mr. Prime Minister, we in Australia feel
that the Vietnamese people's resistance to communist aggression
is of vital importance o free men everywhere. Until the
communists, especially those in Pekin*, learn that they cannot
achieve domination over others by their sinister techniques of
infiltration, sabotage and terror, there can be no lasting peace
nor personal freedom in Asia or indeed anywhere in the worl.
May I also say Mr Prime Minister, that the Australian
eople deeply respect ana admire the qualities of courage,
fortitude and resolute independence which are part of the national
heritage and character of the Vietnamese people.
We are proud, Mr. Prime Minister, to stand with the
Vietnamese people in their determined resistance to communist
aggression and in their efforts to achieve rising standards of
living. Mr. Prime Minister, Excellencies and gentlemen, I
invite you to raise your glasses to the Government and people
of Viet Nam to victory in their struggle for independence to
success in their efforts to achieve a better life in conditions
of security freedom and justice and to the deep bonds of
friendship between Australia and Viet Nam which have been
strengthened by our association in this common cause.