PM Transcripts

FOR PRESS: P. M. No. 60. . o
CANBERRA
BOMBING OF HANOI AND HAIPHONG. 8
STATEMENT BY THE ACTI G PRI', MINISTER. THE RIGHT
HON. J. McEN, 1I. P.
The Acting Prime Minister said this morning that the
Australian Government fully supports American policy on South
Viet Nam. As the Prime Minister has indicated in W. ashington,
the action to bomb oil installations on the outskirts of Hanoi
and Haiphong arose from a military assessment, which the
Australian Government accepted, of the needs of the situation,
since these supplies contributed importantly to the capacity
of the enemy, including their capacity to operate destructively
against Australian and allied forces.
The Australian Government was aware of the decision
to strike the oil installations. The nature of discussions on
such operational matters are, of course, confidential between
the Governments concerned.
CANBERRA, June, 1966.