FOR PRESS: P. M. No. 39/ 1966
PRI1' E MINISTER'S TOUR OF SOUTH-EAST ASIA 661/ 063
Statement Released by the Prime T. Minister,
M1r. Harold Holt on his arrival in Bangkok, Thailand.
26th APRIL, 1966
This morning I was with Australian servicemen
commemorating Anzac Day at their operational base in Vietnam.
Less than two hours later, this afternoon, I was
with the Australian Air Force Squadron at Ubon.
The fact that I w-s able to visit Australian Forces
in Vietnam and Thailand in this short space of time is a
forcible reminder of the proximity of events in South-East Asia
and consequently of the vital importance of the efforts which
have been made, both bilaterally and jointly, within the SEATO
framework for building-up defence preparedness.
Australia is duterminca to bc a good ally and its
Government is fully alive to its responsibilities.
These include Australia having a military capacity
enabling timely and effective contributions to collective regiona4
security. Australia is at present meeting connitments in
Vietnam and Malaysia. Relations between Australia and Thailand have
quickened and expanded remarkably in recent years.
It w. s a great honour for Australia to receive a
State visit from Their Majesties the King and Queen in 1962.
I look forwaru to the audience which His Majesty
is graciously giving mc on the present trip.
I also look forward to meeting again your Prime
Minister and the M7iinisters of his Government who earlier this
year paid an official visit to Australia.
In the discussions between the two Governments in
Canberra we found an identity of views on Vietnam, both
Governments recognising the essential nature of the conflict
as Communist agression through infiltration, terror, subversion
and direct military attack.
My visit to Bangkok will enable us to carry this
discussion forward, in the intimate manner of close allies.
I shall have the benefit of the views of the Thai
inisters and in turn will give an account of my visit to
Vietnam. I have come away from Saigon reinforced in my views
of the crucial nature of the struggle in Vietnam and fortified by
the steadfastness and determination I found there.
Australia and Thailand work together as friends and
partners in regional and internationial agencies for social and
economic development, includ~ ing thc Colombo Plan, the Asia
Development Bank and ECAFE, the latter having its headquarters
here in Bangkok. Rc have the same approach to rcgional co-operation
for economic development, technical aid and the sharing of skills,
In our bilateral associations and through international
instrumentalities Australia has become fully acquainted with
Thailand's notable record of domestic achievements in economic and
social progress. It is a matter for satisfaction that in a modest way,
Australia has participated, through programmes of economic aid in
this record of growth of developments.
It is Austrolia's intention to continue with these
joint enterprises which are planned and carried out with the
efficient and purposeful co-operation of the Thai Government.
I look forward with much pleasure to my short stay in
the beautiful anu historic city of Bangkok with its happy blcnd
of the charmn of tradition and the revolution of modernisation.
-11, 1-11,