JOHNSONS IN CANBERRA

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31196, 21 October 1966, Page 11

JOHNSONS IN CANBERRA

‘No Miracles In Manila’ (A’.Z. Press Association—Copyright/ CANBERRA, October 20. President Johnson arrived in Canberra this evening to begin his three-day visit to Australia. The President’s Boeing 707 jet touched down at the Fairbairn Royal Australian Air Force base at 8.5 p.m. New Zealand time.

As the President and Mrs Johnson emerged from the front door of their aircraft, a troop from the Royal Military College at nearby Duntroon began to fire a 21-gun artillery salute.

The Johnsons were greeted at the foot of the steps from the aircraft by the Gov-ernor-General of Australia, Lord Casey, and Lady Casey.

They then met the Australian Prime Minister, Mr Holt, the American Ambassador, Mr Ed Clark, and their wives, who will travel with the Presidential party to Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Townsville (Northern Queensland) on the tour.

The President then inspected a guard of honour comprising men of the Australian Army—including a number of Vietnam veterans—the Navy and Air Force. The President was formally welcomed by Mr Holt in a speech broadcast to the spectators over a loudspeaker system. New Vision The President said that there would be no miracles at next week’s seven-nation Manila conference on Vietnam, but that it could spark a new vision of hope in South-east Asia. Replying to Mr Holt's

address of welcome, he said! he was returning to “his | second home." This was a reference to hisj Second World War service ini Australia as a naval lieutenant-commander. “Now 24 years later.” he said, “I return on a mission of hope. 1 cannot say that imiracles will occur at Manila. ! “The hard work of securing the peace is not done by | miracles. I cannot say that I the hunger and injustice of ; the past will be ended by a ; declaration of the seven j nations who will meet next ! week. i “Years must pass, years of I dedication and effort before I men can make the just society j 'of which they dream.” Man’s Destiny Mr Johnson went on: "Yet there is a new vision, a new I hope, in this vast area of the! world. It is a vision of emancipation—from foreign domination, from I tyranny, from the despair that rides with hunger and disease and ignorance. “It is the only vision worthy of man’s destiny. “We shall try to capture a part of that vision at Manila.”