PM Transcripts

FOR PRESS PM. No. 91 1968
CONTROL OF CORAL SEA ISLANDS
The Governments of Australia and the United
Kingdom today exchanged letters in which the British Government
recognised Australian control over a number of small islands in the
Coral Sea off the East Coast of Australia.
The islands concerned are
Bird Islet, West Islet and other islands forming part of
Wreck Reef.
Cato Island
Herald Beacon Islet and other islands forming part of Mellish
Reef
Observatory Cay and other islands forming part of Frederick
Reef
Observatory Cay and other islands forming part of Kenn Reef
And the island known as Pocklington Reef.
These are all small uninhabited islands lying between
latitudes 10 degrees South and the Tropic of Capricorn and between
longitudes 154 degrees and 158 degrees East.
Australia has exercised control over these islands for
a number of years and the Exchange of Letters merely confirms that
the Queen's Sovereignty over the islands is exercised by the Aust! alian
Government and not the British Government.
CANBERRA 8 November 1968