VISIT TO SOUTH EAST ASIA 1968
SINGAPORE
ARRIVAL PRESS CCNFERENCE GIVEN BY THE
PRIME MINISTER, MR. JCHN GCRTCN, AT AIRPCPT 6 JUNE 1968
Q. ( Question on reaction of Senator Kennedy's death.
PM. I can only say what I said at home, that I was absolutely
sickened when I heard that this attack had been made upon him. I do not
see how a democratic country can run, if people who put a point of view
with which you disagree are subject to assassination. I do not see how a
democratic country can run if a minority resorts to force And violence to
try and overthrow a point of view with which they disagree. I find this
quite shocking, not only personally from the point of view of Robert
Kennedy and his family but from the point of view of the proper conduct
of public affairs. Although I have never met him, I find it completely
devastating that this could have happened, particularly to two brothers,
S two brothers of the one family in so short a time. Both really because
they had points of view with which others did not agree.
Q. Tell us something of the purpose of your visit. Is it a visit
of friendship to see other Prime Ministers?
PM. Well, the major purpose is to meet the people who are in
charge of the countries in our region and to demonstrate that that -policy
which my predecessor, Mr. Holt, furthered, of interest in and close
co-operation with our neighbours, was a continuing policy as far as I am!
concerned.
Q. Prime Minister, how do you feel about going in to Vietnam
e tomorrow morning?
FM. W'hat do you mean how do I feel about it?
0Q. Are you scared?
PM. No. Look there is an old Italian proverb " Che Sera, Sera"-
and I have no doubt it is in other languages also. So that's your answer.
Q. Sir, when Mrs. Gandhi was in your country she said she was
interested in international guarantees for the security of South East Asia.
How do you feel about it?
PM. We had a most delightful visit from Mrs. Gandhi. I think
that she enjoyed her stay and we certainly enjoyed having her with us. A
guarantee is a word and I don't think anything was spelt out during Mrs.
Gandhi's visit, nor were any particular proposals put forward. But I do
believe if all of us together in this region can do what we can to see that
military force is not used, that aggression does not take place, that there
is co-operation and -development, then that can do nothing but good to all
of us in this region.
Q. Do you think that Peking will react to any such proposal?
PM. I wouldn't attempt to try and think of reactions in Peking to
any proposal, whatever.
Q. Would you like Australia to have a dialogue with communist
China?
What precisely do you mean by a dialogue?
Would you have diplomatic relations with communist China?
The Government's policy is not to have diplomatic relations
with communist China.
PM. Q. PM.