PRIE } I INIS' 7 Ii'S TOUR Of SOUTH-EAST ASIA
Final
Press Ccnferencegiven by the Prime Minister,...
Mr. Harold Holt in Bangkok, Thailand 26TH APRIL, 1966
Ladies and gentlemen, this gathering had actually been
arranged when it was thought I would not be having any
discussions with you at the airport on my arrival, but we did
have, as you will recall, a short interview there, and perhaps
what I should do today is just give you a brief account of what
has been covered today and then give you an opportunity to ask
me anything you like about these activities.
We shall not have a great deal of time together as you
will have already gathered, as my Australian colleagues with the
press have discovered, there has not been very many time slots
left on the programme for me by those who have made the
arrangements. , Je find that toaay has been another , ery crowded one.
This morning I was able to return the visit to the
Prime Minister and to meet him and his colleagues in the Cabinet.
You may remember that when he was in Australia he and
two of his senior ministerial colloagues had discussions with us
in the Cabinet Room at Canberra and I regard it as a very fortunate
development that so soon after our talks there, after an
interval in which very important developments have occurred in
this region of the world, and following so closely on my own visit
to South Vietnam and other visits by Ministers here to other
countries in the region, we have been able to have a very
inforiatie and, I think I can claim, mutually valuable exchange
of views. Following those talks our Ambassador here, ir. Loomes
had a working lunch at which I was able to meet several of the
senior diplomatic representatives from the United Kingdom, the
United States and New Zealand together with many of our ovm
senior officials and that providud a useful opportunity for
further talks. After lunch we made the journey by heli-copter to His
Majesty's -palace wihere we had the aavantage of a very interesting
talk with the king.
He asked me to convey his greetings and good wishes to
the people of Australia and expressed his appreciation for the
co-operation which we have developed between our two countries.
Tonight I am to be entertained to dinner by the Prime
Minister and this will round. off for me what has been a very
pleasant and I think quite valuable visit to Thailand.
Tomorrow morning we leave for Kuala Lumpur to begin
another phase of my tour of those areas of South-East Asia in
which Australian troops arc stationed.
QUESTION: vhat impression have you formed regarding Thailand's
security position in relation to the Coniunist insurgency in
the north-cast?
MR. HOLT: ffell we did discuss thuse matters but I don't think that
as a guest in the country it is for me to offer my assessments
publicly of the local situation.
I w., ould say that the Government is very sensitive to the
danger and pressures which come froma Commnunist infiltration.
They are aware of developments in various parts of the
country and I gathered that the Government was capable of dealing
effectively with them.
Q. In the course of your discussions with the Thai
Government was theD possibility raised of further strengthening
under th(; aegis of SEATO a bigger Australian force in Thailand.
12. HOLT: I don't know who has bccn conveying an impression that
at any stage I referred to an enlarged Australian force, I think
that if you will study the language of any comment I have made it
does not give rise to that interpretation.
I havc indicated the extent to which we have announced
the contribution which we have announced in the various places.
I haven't sought to enlarge on that or to enlarge our
contribution.
Q. It was reported in one of the papers this afternoon
that you may send more troops to Thailand?
MAR. HOLT: I don't know whure the report emanated but there is
no foundation from any communt which I have made.