FOR PRESS: 7M No 1970
CONSTRUCTION O CKBUN SOUND NAVAL BASE
Statement by the Prime Minister, Mr. John Gorton
The Government has approved plans for the censtruction, over
five years, of the second stage of Naval Support Facilities at Coczburn Sound,
Western Australia. It is proposed to provide base facilities capable of supporting four
escort vessels and three submarines for periods up to a year without dry
docking. Capital works will include the wharf and service area, dredged
basin area, workshops and stores buildings, engineering services, barracks,
hou., ing, and a jetty and armament depot.
The Base will enable ships to operate in the Indian Ocean and will
significantly increase the flexibility of our Naval Forces.
I am glad to say that the decision has met with warm approval in
Britain and the United States.
The British Minister for Defence has sent us a message which
reads " I confirm that my Government warmly welcomes your intention to establish
a Naval Facility at such a strategic point, which underlines the extent-to which
the threat posed by the Soviet maritime presence in the Indian Ocean, and the
need to keep all the sea-lanes in that area open is being recognised by the nations
of the free world." The United States Secretary of Defence has written " Your stated
intention to develop a naval base in Western Australia is most welcome
The timeliness of a decision to move ahead with a Cockburn Sound Base is
accentuated by the burgeoning Soviet interest in the Indian Ocean and its appruc s,"
Thus the naval construction approved as part of Australia's own
defences is seen by our allies who will be able to use the Base if they wish to
as an advancement of the common interest in contributing to security in the
Indian Ocean.
CANBERRA Octcber 1970
NOTE.-Text of message from Secr tory Laird attached.
COCKBURN SOUND
Text of Messalefo Se rar La ird
The United States recognizes fully the important security
contributions Australia is making to free world defense in the Southwe -at
Pacific and Indian Ocean areas. Your stated intention to develoY. a Naval
Base in Western Australia is most welcome.
The generous offer to open. such a facility to ships of the U. S.
Navy is indeed gratifying; such a base would play an important role L_ U. S.
contingency planning for the region; and as operational requirements or
opportunities may arise, we would make use of the port.
The timeliness of a decision to move ahead with a Cockburn,
Sound Base is accentuated by the burgeoning Soviet interest in the India-,-,
Oce-n and its approaches. The current Soviet interest in Singapore, thea
growing number , of their vessels visiting ports of the Indian Ocean, littoral,
and the historic Soviet desire to exercise control over the Suez area comrbine
to indicate that the free World's interests in the Southwest Pacific India-,-
Ocean area may encounter serious new challenges in the future. An
Australian Naval Base at Cockburn Sound could afford a valuable position
from which manifestations of such a threat could be observed arAd, if
necessary, countered.