P.M. Confident Of Majority Support

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30762, 28 May 1965, Page 1

P.M. Confident Of Majority Support

Mr Holyoake’s announcement was made to a packed I louse. The public galleries were almost completely filled.

“We believe the great majority of the people in this country will support the Government’s decision that a New Zealand combatant unit should take its place alongside the forces of South Vietnam, the United States and Australia and a growing number of countries who pledged to support South Vietnam,” Mr Holyoake said.

“We have proposed to the republic of Vietnam that we will contribute an artillery battery. “This unit would be able to take its place with Australian forces —alongside whom New Zealanders have stood before in the tradition of Anzac in resisting aggression,” he said. Visitors in the galleries broke out into excited talk at this stage of the address. Mr Holyoake said: “We have fully taken into account the facts of the situation in Vietnam and the views expressed in New Zealand. "We believe the great majority of the country will support the decision which the Government has taken,” he said.

The Prime Minister said the dispatch of the unit of this type and size would not diminish New Zealand’s ability to play its full part in the defence of Malaysia—which remained the first priority. Move Delayed “The Government made this decision some days ago, but In spite of criticism from some quarters for delaying the decision, I was determined this announcement should be first made in this House to the elected representatives of the people,” said Mr Holyoake.

Mr Holyoake opened his address by saying he received a message from the Prime Minister of the Republic of Vietnam on May 10. “The message asked that New Zealand should send combatant troops to assist in the struggle against Communist aggression.” he said. The Prime Minister said he

sent an interim acknowledgement to the Prime Minister of South Vietnam on May 14. and the New Zealand government examined the whole question “most anxiously and thoroughly.” He said: “We have heard, and indeed encouraged, the expressions of views from all sections of the community.” Mr Holyoake said in reaching its decision on “this most important question,” the Government had borne in mind New Zealand’s consistent record as a believer in collective security and a staunch supporter of the right of small states to live free from external interference and aggression. Offer Supported

The Prime Minister said the Government strongly supported the offer of the United States President to enter into negotiations without any preconditions looking towards a peaceful setlement. “We also support his proposal for a greatly expanded co-operative economic development programme for the whole area—including North Vietnam—and welcome his offer of a United States contribution of one billion dollars as soon as the United Nations Secretary-General (U Thant) has initiated such a scheme.

“We still hope both offers will be accepted,” said Mr Holyoake.

“We believe however, that until then we have a duty to play our part in the collective effort to assist the people of South Vietnam in their struggle to maintain their independence—for otherwise there can be no possibility of a negotiated peaceful settlement,” he said. The Prime Minister also announced that New Zealand would withdraw its army engineer detachment which has been maintained in Vietnam in a non-combatant role since mid-1964. Near the close of his statement, Mr Holyoake said: “1 shall have the opportunity to explain more fully why the Government has made its decision to assist the Republic of South Vietnam in its struggle against external interference and aggression. “1 merely want to add that it is our earnest hope that the collective measures in which New Zealand has joined will lead to the common objective of a negotiated settlement ending Communist aggression and preserving the rights and freedom of the people of the Republic of Vietnam.

“To this end, the Government has welcomed the offer of the President of the United States to enter into discussions without pre-condi-tions and the efforts of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the British special envoy,” he said.

"The Government believes however, that until there is some evidence of willingness to cease aggression and to negotiate, New Zealand has an obligation to assist in the collective effort to sustain the people of the Republic of Vietnam against the aggression,” said the Prime Minister.