Mr Thomson To Urge Use Of More Troops

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31339, 8 April 1967, Page 1

Mr Thomson To Urge Use Of More Troops

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) SAIGON, April 7.

The Minister of Defence (Mr Thomson) will recommend to the Cabinet that more New Zealand troops be sent to Vietnam.

“If we are determined to see that political violence is abolished,” he said yesterday, “then I think we should be doing more.”

The Minister was speaking after having talks with the Prime Minister of Vietnam, Air Vice Marshal Nguyen Cao Ky, the Chief of State, General Van Thieu, the Minister of War, Lieutenant-General Cao Van Vien, the American Commander-in-Chief in Vietnam, General Westmoreland, and senior Australian task force officers at Nui Dat, where the New Zealand gunners are stationed. “Helpful Briefing”

Mr Thomson said the briefing from task force commanders was “extremely helpful in giving the operational picture. “From this briefing it was dear that the extra iflfantry cooing up soon is going to

help in restoring security to the people.” The Minister continued: “It is also clear that there are jobs here for more infantry and for our Special Air Service men, if we want to help the Vietnamese people resolve their position as quickly as possible.

“This Is certainly the picture I will be taking back to New Zealand.”

Asked to expand on the meaning of the term “as

quickly as possible,” Mr Thomson said: “I think this is the critical thing. If we want this on the world’s plate for a generation or two, like the old north-west frontier, then the best way is to sit back and half do it.

“The length of the war here will bear an inverse relationship to the effort put in by the allies of the Vietnamese people. If we are determined to see that political violence is abolished, then I think we should be doing more.

“Critical Thing”

“I will certainly be presenting to my colleagues in Cabinet an appreciation which will take these factors into account, and will indicate the possible ways and means."