PM Transcripts

DEATH OF PRIME MINISTE'L OF CEYLON
Tributes in the House of Representatives by the Rt. Hon. R. G.
Menzies and the Leader of the Opposition, the Rt. Hon. H. V. Evatt
Mr. Speaker, before the business of the House begins I
wish to refer very briefly to the tragic loss that has been suffered
by our sister member of the Commonwealth, Ceylon, by the
assassination of her Prime Minister, Mr. Bandaranaike. I knew
him, of course, very well. At an earlier date I knew his distinguished
predeccssor, Don Stephen Senanayake, who was accidentally
killed. Now this horrible event has occurred. I took
steps at once to send expressions of sympathy from the Australian
Government and from this Parliament, but I am perfectly certain
that the House would like me to associate it with an expression,
not only of horror at this crime, but also of the profoundest
sympathy with the people and the Government of Ceylon.
It is unfortunately true that in the early days of independence
some turbulence manifests itself. file have had this
tragic event in Ceylon and on an earlio r occasion) in Pakistan,
when that very great man, Liaquat Ali Khan, was assassinated.
Of course, it is a particularly severe blow for Ceylon to have
lost, by sudden death, two of her Prime Ministers in the very
brief history of her independence. The existence of turbulence,
danger and disorder is, I believe, something that we always must
bear in mind when we consider the history of these new and independent
countries. It emphasises the fact that we must have a
6rezat deal of sympathy for them and show a great deal of undorstanding.
On this occasion, our sympathy goes out very strongly
to the family of Mr. Bandaranaike and to the people of Ceylon.
This was a tragic event. One can only hope that it
will not leave too deep a mark on the future history of a country
with which we are so closely linked, and with which we have
always enjoyed the most friendly associations,
Dr. Evatt: Mr. Speaker, I wish to say a word or two in support of
the Prime Minister. Ceylon is a nation that is very close to
Australia. Our friendly relationships with Ceylon were confirmed
during the war. This tragic event must arouse our sympathy
for the people of Ceylon.
I think that everybody must have been struck with the
heroic qualities that were displayed by Mr. Bandaranaike in
speaking to the people of Ceylon from the operating room, and even
urging that somo patience be shown with the alleged assassin. It
appears also that he defended his wife ag; ainst assassination.
As the Prime Minister has pointed out, in throo
nations, all previously British colonies and now belonging to the
British Commonwealth of Nations, suchsad events have occurred.
There has been the assassination of the Prime Minister of Pakistan,
Liaquat Ali Khan, of the Prime Minister of Ceylon, and of
that very great and extraordinary man, Mahatma Gandi, during the
critical per-iod of the history of India end Pakistan. The road
to democracy is sometimes strewn with great difficulties and our
best course is to give our sympathy and understanding to these
people and their leaders. I entirely join in the message proposed
by the Prime Minister.
Canberra,
29th September, 1959