‘Waltzing Matilda' With U.S.

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31982, 8 May 1969, Page 15

‘Waltzing Matilda' With U.S.

(N .Z .P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

WASHINGTON, May 7. The Prime Minister of Australia (Mr John Gorton) prepared for his second and final round of discussions today with President Nixon after pledging that Australia would “go waltzing Matilda” with the United States to resist aggression.

The Australian leader pledged his country’s support' at a White House dinner in his honour last night in response to President Nixon’s declaration of “a special kinship” between their two nations.

Both leaders underlined the close personal ties of friendship that have sprung up between them in the discussions they have held here this week and on Mr Gorton’s previous visit to Washington at the end of March.

Mr Gorton told the. guests at the glittering White House dinner in a toast to the President that Australian support would be at hand wherever the United States was resisting aggression, wherever the United States or the United Kingdom, or any other country, was seeking to ensure that there will be a chance for free expression.” Speaking directly to the President, Mr Gorton said: “Wherever there is a joint attempt to improve not only the material, but the spiritual standards of life of the peoples of the world, then we will go waltzing Matilda with you.” He told Mr Nixon: “You are bearing today a burden, greater I think, than that borne by any other man in the world I know.” The Prime Minister referred to Vietnam only obliquely in commenting on the fact that the United States and Australia had stood together during four wars—the two world wars, Korea and Vietnam.