ASIAN TOUR 1967 SINGAPORE
DEPARTURE PRESS CONFERENCE 29TH MARCH, 1967
PRIME MINISTER: I don't know that there is anything particularly that I wanted to
add to what I said yesterday. I did mention yesterday, I think,
that these were four countries I had not previously visited. All
of them have a significance of a special sort for Australia.
Cambodia is a country with which we have a special relationship
in that, although we respect the neutrality and non-alignment of
Cambodia we have been able to maintain good relations to a point
where we represent American interests in Cambodia and we
represent Cambodian interests in South Vietnam.
In Laos, there is a strategic significance for all of us who
have an interest in the security and stability of this area, and
I am looking forward to seeing at first hand something of the
situation there and having useful talks.
Then on to Taiwan. Australia has recently decided to
establish an Embassy in Taiwan. We recognise the wonderful
economic progress we applaud the economic progress which
is being made there. There is a growing trade between our two
countries and we have always made it clear that whatever future
arrangement develops in relation to Mainland China this should not
be reached at the expense of the 13 million people living in Taiwan.
They are entitled to a separate national existence if that is
the course they choose to pursue.
Then South Korea, Australia has a special interest in South
Korea. We were the first country, as I recall it, to declare
ourselves alongside the f orces of the United States in helping to
resist conMInU41t aggression in South Korea, and of course we
have been associated with our allied forces in Vietnam. I last
met with President Park at the Manila Conference.
Q. Is there any question of an Australian pull-out from this part
of the world Singapore and Malaysia?
P. M. No, Australia has no plan to withdraw forces from this area
and indeed, as I pointed out yesterday in relation to the British
presence here, we regard the presence of these friendly forces,
which we urd erstand are welcomed by Malaysia and Singapore,
as contributing to stabil ty in the e. and able to add to the
security and stability of the region as a whole. We have no
plans to reduce our own forces.
Q. Do you feel the coming British pull-out will weaken the defence
situation here from the military point of view?
4 -2
P. M. Well, I don't think that this is the British intention. They
would wish to contribute to security here and, as I said yesterday,
we have known all along that the forces which have been built
up beyond the normal strength to meet the confrontation issue
were likely to be reduced to at least the pre -confrontation level
but I have no recent knowledge on this matter.
Q. There has been much talk of the establishment of a British base
in Darwin and elsewhere in Australia. Do you think that such a
base, a British base, could successfully help to replace Singapore
in the military sense?
P. M. Well, we have made it clear that we would prefer to see the
establishment continued in this area. We have well-appointed
barracks here and the naval base itself of course is a great asset,
a contribution to the joint security of this total area. But I think
if I interpret the British thinking, they were disposed to move to
bases in Australia only if it was found that they were not desired
to remain cii in their existing baces.
Q. One more question, Sir. Do you think that in the 1970' s
Australia could assume the role the British have played?
P. M. Well, we don't aspire to be more than a good neighbour making
a contribution to peaceful progress here, helping in the resistance
to aggression.
We found our own forces involved in a military sense five times
in the last twenty-five years in this area of the world, but they
have always been involved in resistance to aggression and in a
defensive capacity. And that is what we see as our continuing
role in this area of the world.