ASIAN TOUR 1967 CAMBODIA
DINNER IN HONOUR OF PRINCE SIHANOUK GIVEN BY THE
PRIME MINISTER, MR. HAROLD HOLT, AT PHNOM PENH 31ST miC i_ 1967
FOLLOWING AR. THE MAIN POINTS FROM A SPEECH
MADE BY THE PRIIME MINISTER, 151. HAROLD HOLT:
We near the end of our visit to Cambodia. It is a
visit from which w-have learned much, a visit we have greatly
enjoyed. We are all better inlormed about Cambodia, its
country and its poople> its aspiration and its problems. I
hope we are all wiser also in our understanding of its policies.
A visit of only three days but thoughtfully planned
from Head oL State and his administration to good team work with
our own distinguished Ambassador and his staff which has enabled
us to absorb a widely rcpr, sentative s-ries of features of your
national life. Some conclusions stand out in the mind. I had an
awareness previously that substantial national progrcss was being
made under the leadership of Head of State. What I had not fully
appreciated was the centuries old Khmer culture and tradition so
graphically demonstrated at Angkor and reflected with remarkable
fidelity back to early centuries in the classical royal ballet.
This deep sense of national pride, fierce spirit of
independence associated with the tradition of early civilizations
have clearly influenced your national policy of neutrality and
non alignment. It has also been reflected in features of your
life which have a special Cambodian flavour, your capacity to
marry happily the practical with the aesthetic the ability to
maintain a zestful way of life whilst applying your energy to
the development of a modern economically advo ncing state.
This has been a highly educational visit because
education builds knowledge, builds understanding and understanding
builds friendship. Our relations were warm and friendly before
my visit but I feel that they will be even w-armer and deeper
as a consequence of it.
Your ministers and officials have made it possible
for me to see some of the striking and imaginatively conceived
architectural features of your capital city, to s-e something of
your proud cultural heritage both past and present.
Mrs. Holt and I gr-atly appreciated our audience with
Her Majesty the Queen Mother and I found our own long talk together
both informative and most valuable as well for the understanding
of the Cambodian situation as for a bettor understanding of the
problems of this region.
We have noted the encouragement given to such cultural
activities as your Royal Ballet, your choral and instrumental
music by the Queen Mother and your Head of State. We have seen
convincing evidence of Cambodiat purposeful efforts to achieve
under your leadership the full stature of a modern state.
Industrial developments here ii Phnom Penh, harbour development
at Sihanoukville and the many examples graphically presented at
the State Exhibition wher; His Excellency Mr. Son Sann conducted
us. This was also seen and enjoyed by a great many of my fellow
countrymen. / 2
I 2-
There is a firm basis to our friendship. It is
founded on mutual respect, a recognition of national identity
and integrity, a mutually helpful and trustful relationship.
We like you wish to be left undisturbed to develop our nation.
We ar-both small nations in terms of population. Aus: tralia
has a vast territory and is rich in resources but tLcse are
not easily gained. We have to contend to an extent unknown to
you with drought, flood and bushfire. We have l. gc t-' acts
of arid desert. We are neither a belligeront nor stic
people but we have contributed where we have thought called
for to goals of security and economic advancement for others.
Since becoming Head of Australian Government it has
been my purpose to become familiar with Australian neighbours
countries in Asia, to meet and talk with their leaders and to
learn at first hand something of their way of life, th,: ir
peoples accomplishments, ideas and problems. This process
has been richly rewarded in Cambodia, I hope the value I have
found in such a visit will encourage your Head of State to
make a visit when he can to Australia. He has the warm
invitation of my Government to do so. We both believe our
countries have a contribution to make to a peaceful and more
prosperous world. May our friendship contribute usefully
to this.