FCR PRESS: P. M. No. 88/ 1968
VIETNAM BOMRING HALT
Comment bythe Prime Minister, M. 2_. Lhn Gorton
As you have heard, President Johnson has announced
that all air, naval, and artillery activity on or within the territory
of North Vietnam will be stopped at 8. 00 a. m. Friday morning,
Washington time. ( That is 11 o'clock EST tonight).
We have been consulted by the Government of the
United States, and kept fully informed of developments leading up
to this announcement. It has been the attitude of the Australian Government
that a suspension of bombing in North Vietnam would be justified only
if in response some corresponding reduction in North Vietnamese
military activity was occurring or could be expected to occur.
The Americans have sharad with us the information
which has led them to conclude that they can be co. nfidentc there will
be such a response. We believe there are good grounds for their
judgment and sincerely hope it will be proved right by future events.
A further cxpected result is that representatives of
the Government of North Vietnam intend to enter into serious and
direct talks with the Government of the United States, and the
Government of the Republic of Vietnam, on the substance of a
peaceful settlement. As these results occur we believe that they hold out
real hopes of future progress towards a just peace. We will not be
seeking to participate in these talks at this stage.
CANBERRA I November 1968
Gorton, John
Period of Service: 10/01/1968 - 10/03/1971
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Release Date:
01/11/1968
Release Type:
Media Release
Transcript ID:
1949
Document:
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- Gorton, John Grey
FOR PRESS : P.M NO.88/1968 VIETNAM BOMBING HALT COMMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, MR JOHN GORTON
1949