PM Transcripts

FOR PRESS P. M. No. 59/ 1966
MEETING BETWEEN THE PRIME MINISTERS OF AUSTRALIA
AND NEW ZEALAND
Mr. Holt and Mr. Holyoake met at Parliament House
this morning, this being their first meeting as Prime Ministers.
After talks lasting more than two hours, they
lunched together with the New Zealand High Commissioner, Mr.
Hazlett. Most of the discussion between the Prime Ministers
was in the defence and foreign policy field. They went over some
of the matters which will be engaging the SEATO Council during
the week, but concentrated rather more on a joint consideration
of the developments and the outlook in South-East Asia as viewed
from Australia and New Zealand. Viet Nam and Indonesia were
included in this survey. The Prime Ministers discussed not only
the joint military operations in which Australia and New Zealand
are engaged, but also the economic advancement of the area which
they each recognise as being of first importance to the future
stability and peace of Asia. They discussed also Mr. Holt's recent
visit to South Viet Nam, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, and the
impressions which Mr. Holt drew from it.
Britain's defence position in South-East Asia came
into the discussion. There was agreement by the Prime Ministers
that a firm, continuing British presence is important, not only
in terms of its defence significance, but in terms of the
advantages which it will have for long term world stability and
for Britain's own world role.
They discussed Commonwealth affairs in the light
of the Prime Ministers' Conference under consideration for later
this year. Brief discussions occurred also in the context of
the increasingly close trade relations developing out of the
New Zealand/ Australia Free Trade Area arrangements.
The Prime Ministers also covered the current
economic situation in their respective countries.
CAINBERRA
26th June, 1966
Later this afternoon, Mr. Holt will receive brief official
calls from the Foreign Ministers of the Philippines, Thailand
and Viet Nam. They will call on him individually.
A. EGILETON
Press Secretary to Prime Minister.
26/ 6766