PM Transcripts

ASIAN TOUR 1967 KOREA
ARRIVAL STTEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, MR. HAROLD HOLT
6TH APRIL, 1967.
Mr. Prime Minister, Mrs. Chung, Distinguished Guests:
I thank you for the warm welcome you have given me
Mrs. Holt and my party on this our first visit to Korea It is
indeed the first visit ever made to your country by an Australian
Prime Minister. I hope this fact alone will be some assurance to
you of the interest my country has in Korea and its people, and
will ue accepted by you as an expression of our oodwill towards
you. We look forward to learning over the next few days more
aoout your country and your people.
Australia has folloed your fortunes closely since
1950 when, without pr , vocation or warning you were invaded from
your Vorth. I was a member of the Australian Caoinet then, it
decided nromptly to send Australian forces to assist you in
repelling that ag ression. I oelieve we were the first country
after the United States puolicly to declare our intention of
giving military assistance to Korea. Later we were ' lad to join
in helping you to reconstruct your ravaged country.
have taken pSlaicnec. e tYheosu e nodwa rhka vdea ysa tghrreiavti ncgh anegcoenso mfyo r wtihthe ab ehttigehr
rate of growth. You have a Constitutional Democracy. You are
highly respected throughout the free countries of the ' orld.
cdYaeopmuaroos nlysist r aletoednd e anwodfh awtth ietc ha ns uecfbfec iecsdisoe nnes tt obyrai deamsn ineoinfs etorragutrei toitncim,, esoe. nd cuec Yattoheud e hapveeoole
distruoing influences of communist subversion and aggression
have been brought under control.
The ood example you provide has given you increasing
influence amongst free na ions of Asia and the Pacific. Australia
applauded your initiative in calling the successful conference of
ASPAC last year. Your own experience undoubtedly affected you in your
decision to give substantial military help to Vietnam in its
efforts to resist communist aggression. are proud to have
Australians fighting alongside your own troops in Vietnam, as
they did in Korea in those earlier years.
I was glad to collaborate with your distinuished
President and other national leaders at the Su. imit Conference
in FManila last year.
I am greatly looking forward to our meetin together
again, and to the useful discussions we shall oe aole to have.
Mr. Prime M inister, thank you for this most friendly
reception. Thank you also for affording to me and my party this
welcome opportunity to develop better knowledge and understanding
of the Korea of today.