effines
5/1/20
PAPE
HEATH STRESSES
ASIAN DEFENCE
Stronger forces
needed
SYDNEY, Sunday. The Soviet presence in the Indian Ocean showed the need for strengthened Commonwealth forces in Asia and, in particular, for Britain to maintain its pre- sence in the Persian Gulf, the British Leader of the Opposition, Mr Heath, said at Kingsford Smith Airport today.
Mr Heath, who was leaving Australia after his win in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, reiterated his pledge, made in August, 1968, that if the Con- servative Party won power in 1971, it would reverse the British Government's decision to with- draw all troops east of Suez by the end of 1971,
In Bangkok. the American Vice-Proudang Mr Agnew said
A Bradlon Nixon weid.
not send US combat troops to Asia "without congressional ap- proval and unless some very extreme, provocative and sub- stantial action took place", the Associated Press reported.
Mr Heath said he had been encouraged by the decisions of Australia and New Zealand to commit forces to the Malaysia- Singapore area after 1971.
"This means that our contri- bution would be part of a five- power Commonwealth force composed of Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Sin- gapore", he said.
"The Australian decision en- tirely fits our concept not of a dominant British role as in the past, but of a shared contribution among the five powers".
Mr Heath said a British pres- ence after 1971 was important from a defence point of view be
Economic reason
Mr Heath said it was also in Britain's economic interest to maintain troops he- cause Britain gained a benefit of £300 million (SA624 million) in its halance of payments from Malaysia and Sin- gapore alone.
Mr Heath was confident' of victory in the coming British elections.
Mr Heath had an in. formal lunch with the Prime Minister. Mr Gor- ton, in Canberra on Satur- day and will spend a week having defence talks in
! South-east Asia 00 his
way home.
Mr Heath
Asia, barring a massive ex-
BANGKOK, Sunday ternal attack, would be (AAP-Reuter). Refer- confined to naval and air
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ring to his statement on forces. congressional approval be fore US tops were sent to
Mr Agnew talked with Asia. Mr Agnew said in urters route from Bangkok this was a reason
Taipei, Formosa. where he for the Administration's President Chiang Kai- rendo sement of the curb shex. He praised Thai-
voted by Congress last land's "self-reliant attitude”. month of possible use of in supporting South Viet American troops in Laos nam while "simultaneously cr Thailand.
combating armed Commun- Mr Agnew said Presi-ist-led insurgents within its dent Non's support of own borders by using its the curb indicated the own forces".
President's conviction that The Thai Foreign Min- we would not become in- ister, Mr Thanat, said volved in any other com-later Mr Agnew discussed bat activities with our the question of whether troops in Asia unless some Thailand's 12.000 troops very extreme, provocatory į stationed in South Viet. and substantial action took nam could be withdrawn place that might make it to assist in Thailand's own necessary for him to seek | Communist suppression re-evaluation by the programme. Congress".
"On this subject both The Vice-President dis- sides agreed to exchange closed that the Asian lead-views and to hold close ers with whom he has consultations", Mr Thanat talked so far, rather than said.
tion
fearing subversion and in- Mr Thanat said later filtration. are afraid of that Mr Agnew gave his "total attack, not infiltra- assurances the US "will All unmistakable not change its policy in attack by another power matters concerning Thai- which would be an act of land and SEATO" and that war".
commitments of the The implication of Mr American Government to Agnew's words was that Thailand and to South- any US action to carry out east Asia will not be af. its trealy commitments infected.
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