E3AiRGOED 4p
NOT FOR RELEASE BY PlY LDIA EFORE 7.30 P. M. ;:. EDYNESDAY, 16TH
" AUSTRALIA' S SECURITY"
Transcript of Election Telecast by the Prime Minister,
Mr. Harold Holt
Throughout this year there has been a great national
debate in Australia auout South Vietnam. This has been so
widely discussed that most people now know where they stand.
The side issues have been eliminated. The great
question ofsecurity that has emerged may be stated simply:
Are we right in joining with our allies to stop aggression
before it spills over into all South East Asia. re we
right in joining with our friends to stop aggression before
it comes near to our shores? , Je think we are right and
we believe that the majority of Australians support us.
Let me put this to you simply: Our fighting in
South Vietnam is buying time for a new and stronger Asia.
This is not a commitment to war; it is a commitment to
peace and freedom.
The whole world, with the exception it would seem,
of Communist North Vietnam and Communist China, wants peace
in Vietnam, as it wants peace everywhere. The olive branch
has been extended time akter time out has been rejected by
Hanoi and Peking.
Communists in Vietnam and China do not want peaceful
negotiations which could guarantee the right of the people
of South Vietnam to choose their own way of life. They
demand a surrender a withdrawal by the friends and allies
of South Vietnam so that South Vietnam may be taken over
by Communism. There are, of course, people in Australia who disagree
with our policy and with America's policy. They have
produced no practical alternative out their views seem to
be, when reduced to hard, realistic terms that we should
make peace with the Communists by giving them what they
want. Peace is not a one-way traffic. Vie and our allies
are ready and willing to talk peace when Peking and Hanoi
are ready. 3ut vie are not willing to surrender to them.
There is too much at stake for South Vietnam,
for South East Asia, for Australia, for the whole Free World.
The Communists must learn that South Vietnam and the
allies of South Vietnam will not lose heart, will not be worn
down, but have the strength and staying power to defend the
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right of every people to choose their own political institutions
and their own social and economic order.
:. hen that day arrives we shall be found amongst
those helping our Asian neighbours to acquire the food, the
wealth, the skills, the education and the strength they
need. This is the kind of involvement we want with the
new Asia. Most Australians understand by now that we can't
separate our domestic affairs from our foreign affairs.
e can't have prosperity and security at home unless we
have security abroad.
So we have joined with others in paying a price
for our freedoms.
We have accepted responsibilities and obligations.
1Ke believe that unless there is security for all
small nations there cannot ue security for any small nation.
That is why we played our part in the making of the
SEATO and ANZUS treaties.
That is why I have welcomed the fruitful talks I've
had with Prime Minister Harold Wilson and his Defence
Minister, Denis Healey, on security problems East of Suez.
That is why we believe strongly in our American
alliance. You have only to look at the map of this part of
the world to see we have a vital interest in the effective
presence and participation of the United States. There
are unfortunately some people in Australia who would like
to see our American alliance weakened. I wonder why.
Our international interests are directly involved
in preserving South East Asia from aggression and from
Communist domination. That is how three successive
American Presidents have measured the situation. Surely
that is how all people who believe in freedom and rejecT
tyranny should see it.
What alternative is offered by our political
opponents? They offer this country a retreat to
isolationism and a walk-out on our friends. The Australian
people will not accept that alternative.
( This Telecast will be programmed by the A. B. C. Network at
7.30 p. m. 1 th November, 1966)