COULD GO TO VIETNAM

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31248, 21 December 1966, Page 1

COULD GO TO VIETNAM

Malaysia Force Under Review

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, December 20.

The Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) tonight said that New Zealand forces in Malaysia could be sent to Vietnam.

Questioned at a press conference about today’s announcement by the Australian Prime Minister (Mr Holt) that Australia would increase its Vietnam force, Mr Holyoake said he had nothing to add to his statement last night.

He then said, when asked if the Government had received any recent approaches from South Vietnam or the United States for more military or economic aid, “There have been no fresh approaches.” Tonight Mr Holyoake said that in the next two or three months Britain, Australia, and New Zealand would consider the future deployment of the whole or parts of the Commonwealth Brigade. “Deployment in Vietnam could become a part of this exercise,” he said, “but this is all very indeterminate at this stage.”

Asked whether his remarks about the battalion would rule out the commitment of another New Zealand service, Mr Holyoake replied in the negative. “I wouldn’t like to pro-

phesy whether naval activity will be required there over the coming year,” be said. The Prime Minister said that the remarks on the infantry battalion might also be applied to the Navy. “Troops Needed”

The Chief of the Defence Staff (Lieutenant-General L. W. Thornton) said in Wellington yesterday that in his opinion more troops from some source were going to be needed to win peace in Vietnam.

He had just returned from a two-week visit to New Zealand troops in Asia. “Obviously New Zealand infantry would be of value,” he said. “Naval or air forces would also be valuable.”

There would be no difficulty in sending troops from the battalion in Malaysia, he said. Lieutenant-General Thornton said New Zealand infantrymen would be of value in Vietnam and would be welcomed by the 150-strong artillery battery now fighting there.

The battalion in Malaysia was now up to full strength. It had just had an influx of new blood.

It was now in training and would be at its peak of efficiency early in March. (Mr Holt, page 21)