PRII1 INISTER'S VISIT TO U. S. ATND U. K
__ Prme SSr ta arod olt
at ' fscotA irport on his return from overseas 17th July, 1966.
It is very good to be back in this crips air of Australia
once more and to feel that I can say " mission accomplished" with
a full heart. I think you've had a very good cover of all that's
been happening with me, from what I gather from the papers that
have reached me. Perhaps the only . matterw hich w: ouldn't have
been dealt with in any detail up till no-by the press was my
visit yesterday to the headquarters of the Commander-in-Chief,
Pacific Comimand, Admiral Sharp, in Honolulu, where I had quite
the most comprehensive briefing on the military operations, the
build up of military strength and the conduct of operations that
I've had in the course of the whole tour. And this rounded off
in a most valuable way the discussions I've been having at the
political level.
The main purpose of my journey was, as you know, to try to
establish a warmer and closer personal working relationship with
the Prime Minister of Great Britain and the President of the 4
United States. From the time I took office, both of them had of
their own initiative suggested to me that I continue with them
the same close and intimate cor. munication which had developed
between each of them and Sir Robert ' enzies. So that when
I came to meet them, I met them as one who had got quite close to
them by way of this exchange of correspondence. But there is no
substitute for the personal contact. Each of them had in turn
suggested that I make a visit in order that ve might get to know
each other better, and I was able to do this of course with the
two of them. And I can say without reservation that as a result
of this there has developed between myself, Prime Minister Wilson
and President Johnson a working relationship and an intimacy of
personal knowledge which, I think, will make for a T; r1, uos eful
and advantageous exchange in the future, and which will benefit
our respective countries in the closeness of our co-operation.
I an rather sorry that the concluding reports I saw in
one or two of the papers, covering my remarks in Uashington,
implied a good deal of criticism on my part of the British
Government. That read more into w. hat I said than I certainly
intended. Indeed, I believe that, having regard to his own
political difficulties and the problems he faces in the United
Kingdom, that Prime Minister 1ilson has shown great courage and
purpose in the line he has taken in relation to South Viet Nam.
It's true that he did not see the bombing episode in the same
way that the United States and ourselves did, but he made it
clear that he was still supporting American purposes and presence
in South Viet Nam.
He and I had a very close exchange. I think the night
at Chequers in which we spent three hours alone together and
covered a great deal of ground was foundational to continuing
good relations in the future and we were able to follow that up
with -talks at No. 10 Downing Street the next day. I mention this
because I think rather less has been made of the talks in London,
although they were certainly no less extensive than the talks we
had i. n '-ashington betwcon the President and -yself and his advisers.
In eohch case I was able to talk, not only with the leaders of
the governments concerned, but with their most senior colleagues,
and this has given me a very rounded and quite full picture of
what -each administration is doing in respect of a lot of matters
in which we are interested.
2.
Now-tomorrow; I meet the National Preos Club in Canberra
and I shall try there to survey the contacts and discussions in
rather more depth. But I hope you won't expect that of me so
early in the morning after so long a journey.
All I w: ould add by v. ay of conclusion is that all the
objectives which I set out to achieve w: ere fully accomplished,
and a groat deal more that went beyond my most sanguine
expectations. Some problems have been revealed. But
it is interesting to note that the concept I advanced at the
outset of an Asia which, under the protection of the might and
power of the United States, had been able to expand and extend
econom: ically and in co-operation.-has boon seized on with
enthusiasm by President Johnson and his colleagues. It doesn't,
of course, state anything new but at least it states publicly
some of the developments and puts them together in a co-ordinated
ay Jwhich, I thirr, had not been done effectively before. So
this ws a valuable contribution which Australia was able to imke
and, certainly, it was appreciated.
I, for my part, was very glad to have the second opportunity
of seeing the President and his colleagues and a good deal of
value was gathered from the second visit, supplementing the first.
I shall long remember and treasure these cxperiences as the
representative of this country, feeling the warmth that radiates
to us in these two great democracies. They value us as a
partner, as friend, as colleague in the purposes we share in
common. And Australia must fee]. proud that our place( in this
area of the world is recognised as an important one by tw: o of the
powerful leaders of the democratic countries of the world.
Thank you.