ASIAN TOUR 1967 LAOS
JOINT AUSTRALIAN/ LAO COVIvUNIQUE ISSUED AT VIENTIANE 2ND APRIL, 1967
At the invitation of the Royal Government of Laos
the Right Honourable Harold Holt, Prime Minister of Australia,
in the course of his tour of Asia, paid an official visit to
Laos from 1st to 3rd April, 1967.
The Right Honourable the Prime Minister of Australia
and his party were the object of a warm welcome on the part of
the Lao Government and people.
The Australian Prime Minister, Mrs. Holt and those
accompanying them were received on 2nd April in Luang Prabang
by His Majesty the King Sri Savang Vatthana and Her Majesty
the Queen, who were pleased to offer them lunch after the
Royal Audience. The Right Honourable Harold Holt, Prime Minister of
Australia, and His Highness Prince Souvanna Phouma, Prime Minister
and Head oi the Provisional Government of Lao National Union,
proceeded to a frank and friendly exchange of views on the situation
in Lads and on international questions of common interests. These
discussions took place on Saturday, 1st April in Vientiane in an
atmosphere of frank cordiality and mutual comprehension.
The following were present these discussions:
On the Australian side:-
1. The Right Honourable Harold Holt, Prime Minister.
2. His Excellency Ambassador Barrie Dexter,
Australian Ambassador to Laos.
3. His Excellency Sir Laurence McIntyre, C. B. E.,
Deputy Secretary of the Department of External Affairs.
4. Mr. D. Munro, First Assistant Secretary of the
Prime Minister's Department.
Mr. F. W. Jennings, of the Prime Minister's Department.
On the Lao side:-
1. His Highness Prince Souvanna Phouma, Prime Minister,
Minister of National Defence, Foreign Affairs,
Veterans Affairs and Rural Development.
2. His Excellency Leuam Insisiengmay, Vice Premier,
Minister of National Education, Fine Arts and
Sport-South.
3. His Excellency Pheng Phongsavan, Miuistar of the
Interior and Social Welfare and in Charge of the
Ministry of Public Health.
4. His Excellency Sisouk Na Champassak, Minister of
Finance.
His Excellency Inpeng Suryadhay, Minister of Justice
and in charge of the Ministry of Planning and
Co-operation.
6. His Excellency Chao Boun Om. Na Champassak,
Minister of Religious Affairs.
7. His Excellency Keo Viphakone, Secretary of State
for Social Welfare. a. / 2.
2-
8. His Excellency Soukan Vilaysane, Secretary of State
for Veterants Affairs.
9. His Excellency Ouday Souvannavong, Ambcssador of
Laos in Canberra.
Mr. Tianethone Csantharasy, Secretary-General of
Cabinet.
His Highness Prince Souvanna Phouma expressed the feelings
of profound gratitude of the Lao Government and people for the
positive an-constructive aid being given by Australia to Laos,
and in particular its substantial contribution to the maintenance
of the stability of the KIP.
His Highness also emphasised the desire of the Royal
Government, not withstanding the state of war, imposed by a foreign
country, which prevails over the territory of the kingdom, to
exploit the natural resources of the country in order to become
progressively self-sufficient, and he re-affirmed in conclusion
the policy of neutrality which the Royal Government desires to
pursue in accordance with the Geneva accords of 1962.
The Right Honourable Harold Holt expressed his and
Mrs. Holt's gratitude to the Royal Lao Government for its
invitation which enabled him to make personal contact and
discuss mature problems and interests with their leaders and
to see something of the Lao people and their country.
The Right Honourable Harold Holt emphasised that the
Australian aid is accorded without conditions, and that Australia
will continue to make its contribution to the economic development
of Laos and the stability of its currency.
The Australian Prime Minister congratulated the Lao
Government, Army and people who, under the courageous and
enlightened leadership of His Highness Prince Souvanna Phouma,
succeeded in surviving despite the repeated attacks by a more
pow., erful neighbour against the sovereignty, the territorial
integrity and the neutrality of Laos.
The Australian Prime Minister invited His Highness
the Prime Minister and Prince Souvanna Phouma to pay a state
visit to Australia at a mutually convenient time, His Highness
Prince Souvanna Phouma accepted this invitation with pleasure.
The statement expressed the hope that all countries
signatory to the 1962 Geneva accords on Laos would scrupulously
observe the arrangements foreseen in those accords, such
observance would help bring back peace not only to the countries
of the Indo-Chinese Peninsula, but also of South East Asia.