AUST. AID

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32381, 21 August 1970, Page 11

AUST. AID

McMahon’s Statement

(W.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) CANBERRA, August 20.

Australia had made special provisions in her Budget for Cambodian aid, and had already committed $50,000 worth of equipment to that country, the Minister of External Affairs (Mr William McMahon) told Parliament today. No direct military assistance had been given to Cambodia, and no decision had been made on this issue, he added. The free countries of the world were anxious that Cambodia, and the other countries of Indo-China, should have the right to determine their own futures, Mr McMahon said. There had been a blatant violation of Cambodian terrify by North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces, and Australia wanted the country’s neutrality and independence to be maintained. “The free countries are prepared to come to a conference to ensure that Cambodia is left alone,” Mr McMahon said, “but the North Vietnamese will not play, Poland will not play. The Chinese Communists will not play, and the Russians will not play. “The Communist countries don’t want to see Cambodia immediately free and independent.”