Diplomatic history of Australia the democratic world. In a country gripped by this fear, the government's defence policy was dominated by the idea of "forward defence", in which Australia would seek to prevent the Communist "thrust into South-East Asia". The committal of troops to the Vietnam War was viewed as an attempt by the Menzies Government to strengthen the alliance with the USA following Great Britain's withdrawal "east of Suez". With his arrival in October 1966, Lyndon Baines Johnson became the first US President to visit Australia. The visit came in the light of increasing international criticism over the war in Vietnam. The majority
State visit of the President of Ireland to the United Kingdom this the President visited the Palace of Westminster, where he . In the evening, The President and First Lady were guests of honour at a State Banquet hosted by the Queen at Windsor Castle along with 160 guests. The Queen made a speech before dinner and President Higgins . Higgins and his wife were honoured as guests of the Queen at Windsor Castle for the remainder of their visit. The following morning, the President and First Lady were escorted by Prince Andrew, the Duke of York to the Grand Stairs in Windsor Castle to view the Colours of the 1922