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DEFENCE OF AUST.

Assessment By Cabinet

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) CANBERRA, Sept 10.

Australia should maintain its presence in South-East Asia, particularly in "Malaysia and Singapore, according to an official strategic assessment now before the Federal Cabinet, the Sydney “Daily Telegraph” reports. The 80-page assessment, ordered by the Prime Minister (Mr John Gorton), has been prepared by senior officers of the Departments of External Affairs and Defence, the three armed services and the Prime Minister's Department.

It is expected to provide a new foundation for Australian defence planning, and theoretically covers a decade.

It suggests there should be no move at present to withdraw Australian forces from South-East Asia, particularly before or in line with the British withdrawal, but it says there might be a desire to withdraw forces in the late 19705.

On Vietnam, the assessment sees a period of “fuzziness” ahead for up to seven years, after which all outside troops would be withdrawn.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19680911.2.149

Bibliographic details

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31781, 11 September 1968, Page 16

Word Count
155

DEFENCE OF AUST. Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31781, 11 September 1968, Page 16

DEFENCE OF AUST. Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31781, 11 September 1968, Page 16