EMBARGO NOTFOR-RLS./ EBEFORE9AM ( EST)
FOR PRESS: PM No. 88.1969
VIET NAM FURTHER TROOP WITHDRAWALS
Statement by the Prime Minister, Mr John Gorton
The Prsdn's announcement means that he believes
the Vietnamisation programme is proving successful, and that he can
make further troop withdrawals without running military risks.
K. It does not mean any abandonment of the objectives to
attain which the United States and we, ourselves, entered the war as,
indeed, the President has pointed out.
C. When the announced withdrawals have been completed,
the United States forces will have been reduced to a level about 50, 000
below that at which they stood when the Australian Government increased
its Yask Force to the present level.
It is the belief of the Australian Government, after
careful study of this matter in Cabinet on the basis of reports
jointly submitted by the Ministers for External Affairs and Defence that,
when the military situation in Vietnam permits the next substantial
withdrawal, then, in consultation with the Government of the Republic
of Vietnam, some. Australian units will be included in the numbers
scheduled for such withdrawal.
I have talked with the President of the Uni'ted States
C. about this and he expressed himself as happy to agiee with our view.
It is impossible, at this stage, to forecast when such
further withdrawals might take place.
CANBERRA, 16 December 1969
Gorton, John
Period of Service: 10/01/1968 - 10/03/1971
Find more information on Gorton, John on the:
Release Date:
16/12/1969
Release Type:
Media Release
Transcript ID:
2149
Document:
00002149.pdf
1 Page(s)
Released by:
- Gorton, John Grey
FOR PRESS: PM. NO 88/1969 VIETNAM : FURTHER TROOP WITHDRAWALS STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER , MR JOHN GORTON
2149