Vietnam Statement Criticised

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31340, 10 April 1967, Page 14

Vietnam Statement Criticised

A statement by the Minister of Defence (Mr Thomson) in Saigon that he would recommend to the Cabinet that more troops be sent to Vietnam, made without prior consultation with either the Cabinet or Parliament, was the “very antithesis of democracy,” said the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk) on Saturday.

The statement would cause deep concern and confusion, said Mr Kirk.

“This concern would occur because of the manner in which the announcement was made, and confusion_would be caused because no-one could tell now what the Government policy might be. “Such a statement can only be regarded as an attempt by one Minister and an experienced one, to commit both Cabinet and Parliament to a course of action without prior consultation with either. This is the very antithesis of democracy.” Mr Kirk said it was alarming that in his first overseas tour as a Minister, and one fiat was closely identified with military interests, Mr Thomson should be moved on the spur of the moment, and apparently by the spirit of the occasion, to make such a statement.

This was particularly so since the issue was one of such grave importance and lay also within the province of external affairs policy. “This situation lends validity and strength to Sir Leslie Munro’s well-founded criticisms relating to Mr Thomson’s duties,” Mr Kirk added. “New Zealand is neither ready for nor wants a oneman government. Mr Thomson should be told this at once. The Prime Minister has a duty to do so in an unequivocal statement.

“This has not been done, nor is it possible to predict how far the Government will go along with the commitment Mr Thomson appears to have created.

“Instead, the Prime Minister has fallen back on the type of evasive and misleading statement he employed in February, preceding the announcement of the sending of infantry to Vietnam in February,” said Mr Kirk.