Departure Of Battery May Be Delayed

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30783, 22 June 1965, Page 3

Departure Of Battery May Be Delayed

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, June 21.

The acting Prime Minister, (Mr Marshall) said today consideration would be given to delaying the departure of New Zealand artillery battery for South Vietnam if, after the initiative proposed by the Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ meeting, the Communist governments responded promptly in a manner which showed a delay was justified.

Tonight, Mr Marshall said the statement, which has been sent to the Prime Minister in London, was a confirmation of the views Mr Holyoake had expressed, having regard to the local conditions.

The situation would now be allowed to develop, Mr Marshall said. “The reaction of Chou Enlai is an indication of the likely outcome,” he said. Mr Marshall was referring to a statement by the Chinese Premier that the Commonwealth mission would meet with ignominious failure.

Mr Marshall said the Government had repeatedly emphasised the objective in Vietnam was a negotiated agreement which would bring an end to the fighting there and preserve the rights of the neople of South Vietnam.

“The only obstacle in the way of a settlement has been the refusal of the Communist powers concerned to enter into negotiations and their evident determination to continue the fighting,” he said. “The manner in which they rejecte'd earlier moves—including initiatives by the British Government, the President of India. 17 non-aligned nations and the United Nations Secretary-General as well as the of.'er of the president of the United States fbr unconditional discussions and other proposals—does not give grounds for optimism about their response to the Commonwealth mission,” said Mr Marshall. Mr Marshall said he could not say when the artillery battery would leave for South Vietnam if the Commonwealth mission failed to get the support of the Communist powers. Asked when New Zealand’s engineering unit —which has been in South Vietnam in a non-combatant role for some time—would be withdrawn. Mr Marshall said no date had been fixed. Asked if New Zealand’s surgical unit stationed at Qui Nhon in South Vietnam would be moved up to the artillery battery if it was sent to Vietnam, Mr Marshall replied: “No. It will stay where it is,”

In a prepared statement, Mr Marshall said it would be “more difficult” for the Communist powers to reject out of hand an initiative from the Commonwealth. “The Government supports the appeal made for the parties involved in the fighting in Vietnam to exercise restraint in the coming weeks,” he said “Responsibility in this respect rest above all with the Government of North Vietnam —for it is that Government which is engaged in aggression against South Vietnam, while

South Vietnam and those countries supporting it are engaged essentially in a defensive operation.” Mr Marshall said there could be no question of a unilateral cease-fire by the United States and South Vietnam and it would be senseless to allow the Communists to maintain their military pressure during talks while asking the defenders to cut down their own activities.

“The decision to dispatch the New Zealand battery cannot serve as a pretext for another Communist rejection of the path to peace,” said Mr Marshall.

The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Nordmeyer) said today that he welcomed the suggestion that the dispatch of New Zealand’s artillery unit to South Vietnam should be postponed. Referring to comment made by the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) in London yesterday, Mr Nordmeyer said:— “I am amazed at the Prime Minister’s reaction to my comments on his recommendation to the Cabinet. I described this as a new approach and a new hope. “I said I was prepared to give the Prime Minister credit for taking a new attitude which would possibly remove the deadlock to a negotiated settlement,” he said.