EMBARGO NOT FOR RELEASE UNTIL 8 PM ( EST)
" ADDRESS TO THE NATION"
BY THE PRI7E MINISTER, MR WILLIM Mc!,' AHON
OVER THE NATIONAL RADIO AND TV NETWORK 26 NOVEMBER 1971
Good Fvening: I want to report to you tonight about my recent
mission to the United States and to the United Kingdom.
About the middle of October, i received a personal
invitation from President Nixon to visit the United States. Now
I did so in extraordinary circumstances because momentous events
were occurring in world affairs which intimately affected us as
well as the rest of the world.
There was a growing change in the balance of power
amongst the great countries. No longe2 did the United States and
Soviet Russia dominate the scene. Communist China was becoming
increaslingly important, and so, too was Japan and the European
Community, including Britain. As well, the President of the United
States was about to visit both Peking and * oscow. And Dr Kissinger,
on his behalf, had been to Peking on two occasions. There was an
international monetary crisis. Britain had just decided enter the
European Community and, of course, in the countries that I was to
visit, aueries were made about problems that we might have to face
at home. So I went to the United States first, that is, to New
York and to Washington. And I had interviews with most of the
important members of the United States Administration, from President
Nixon down. In my discussions with him, he first of all raised the
question of the .7erican presence in South Vietnam. And he explained
to me in detail what the Americans intended to do and the rate at
which their forces would be withdrawn. He also gave me and I regard
this as of vital importance to us but he gave me an assurance that
the ANZUS Treaty was as valid today as it was on the day on which
it was signed. Now this Trepty is important to us for this reason:
That, as you will probably know, the ANZUS Treaty provides that in the
event of an armed attack on Australia, the United States and New
Zealand would act to meet the common danger. There could not have
. een a better assurance than he has given, and it virtually guarantees
our freedom from attack.
I also had discussions on such matters as trade of
meat particularly and a visit of Y'r Stans to Australia, their
Secretary of Commerce, relating to the problems associated with
wool. It was also suggested to me in discussions with their Treasury
officials that the United States, Japan, and ourselves, should
co-operate in order to try and get better terms cfaccess to the
new European Economic Community. / 2
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Of course, I had other discussions, but I haven't the time
to be able to go through them tonight. But I did have discussions
on the environment and pollution. And the Americans assured me
that our officials would be able to go there, and they would make
available all the information they had so that we would avoid the
errors of other countries.
So I can assure you of this. The visit was timely it
was successful and it was to your advantage.
I then went to the United Kingdom, and had discussions
with Mr Heath, the Prime Minister, and most of his senior Ministers.
The big problem we faced there was that Britain was
shortly to enter the European Economic Community. And that
consequently the historic trade ties between Australia and the
United Kingdom would cease.
So I sought guarantees that our interests would be
protected. And I am glad to be able to say that from Mr Heath
down to his Chancellor of vhe Exchequer and the Minister responsible
for Economic Affairs in the European Community, Mr Rippon, that
they would do their best to protect our interests now. And they
gave me three guarantees.
The first one was that if we did have some difficulties
with particular agricultural industries, we could make representations,
or the British would make representations for us, to the Community
to try and get corrections made. They also agreed that if we had
a threat of serious injury, we could take it up with the European
Community. And above all, they stressed the nend for industries
themselves to become involved in these problems, and not leave the
sole responsibility to the Government.
In the case of Papua-Mew Guinea, they said that if the
Community could be prevailed upon to accept their ideas, they would
give special privileges to the export of goods from Papua-New
Guinea into the United Kingdom. Yesterday I received a message
which I'm glad to say I was able to relay to the House, that they
had lived up to their promise and special advantages would be given
to Papua/ New Guinea, a dependency country that is really for the
time being dependent on us.
So, too, did I have pretty important discussions on other
economic matters. It was oointed out to me that Australia and
England are both great trading powers. And consequently in the case
of the United Kingdom, the greater the trade and the greater the
degree of flexibility, the better it would be.
For my part, I asked them in fact I impressed upon them
that they must not be isolationist and inward-looking, but Britain
should exert its influence to ensure that the European Community
was outward-looking and international. / 3
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Now I am sure that the arrangements, or the arrangements
that we made, will be of advantage to Britain, to the Common
Market, to the world, and above all to ourselves.
I then had discussions with the Minister for Defence,
Lord Carrington, well known to most Australians. And again
we discussed problems of great importance to us, the first being
the recent signature of wh,, t is called the Five Power arrangements
relating to Malaysia and Singapore.
Now, as you know, Malaysia and Singapore, together with
Indonesia, are vital to us.
We want the British to maintain a presence East of Suez,
and particularly in Malaysia and Singapore, just as long as they
can. And I received assurances of this kind from the Government.
They are willing to participate in the security, and tq
engender a feeling of confidence in this part of the world, and they
are certainly willing to participate in training arrangements for
the Malaysi-ns and Singaporeans. And so it went on.
I had discussions on many other subjects of great
importance to us: Consultations with very nearly every senior
Minister there was in the United Kingdom.
And this brings me to the story that I want to tell to you
as Australian people.
The first one was that on each occasion the consultations
were full, frank and with candour. Nothing was held back. They
told us what they knew and we told them what we knew.
For example, I was told of what was about to happen in
Rhodesia. Mr Nixon told me of his hopes in the visits that he
intended to make to Moscow and to Peking.
And I can assure you, and I want you to realise this fact,
that they trust us, I believe, more than they trust most other
countries, and are willing to confide in us and are willing to
co-operate with us too,
The second point was this: Wherever I went I found that we
were regarded, not as one of the super or the great powers, but we
were regarded as one of the medium powers one that was playing
an increasingly important part, and having an increasingly important
influence: Not only in South-East Asia, but in the United Kingdom
and the United States as well.
The next point that came home to me and I want to repeat
it to you ia that now that we are accepted as a completely
independent country, that our foreign affairs reflect the interests
of the Australian people, we must also recognise the fact that we
have to take primary responsibility for our own defence. And we have
to take complete responsibility for our own economic affairs, although
the others will assist us when the occasion is needed. / 4
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But let me look at the problem of our economy first.
We have a great economy and I'll say a little more about this
later but in our economic affairs overseas, we have to fight the
battles.. and industry has to join with the Government in achieving
success and not lot the Government do all the fighting for it.
And on defence, too, the primary responsibility depends
uuon us. Now it's true tL.. t we have the ANZUS Treaty, and we have
the Five Power Arrangement with Malaysia and Singapore. But that
doesn't mean that we can just lay back and let the others take the
responsibility. In fact, what it does mean, and this is certain and
something that has to be conveyed to you over and over again
that the more we do, the more they'll be inclined to do with us.
But when we get into a position as we got into at the
middle and the latter parts of World ! Iar II, then we will know we
have reliable friends and allies, and that is why the ANZUS
Treaty will be so valuable to us, and that is why for the Moment,
and while the British orcsance is maintained, their presence in
Malaysia and Singapore will be valuable too.
And the third point that I had to make and I want to
make is thisz There were some misgivings in both the United
States and the United Kingdom as to where we were going. They had
heard of the problems of inflation, industrial disputes they knew
of thie problems associated with the sale of wool.
I was able to give them this assurance, and T think they
recognise it now because they admit there is no country that is
more suitable for investment or more attractive to investment
than Australia is.
This, I believe, is the test of how a country is going
and how great its prospects for the future are.
But I did point out to them that our population is now
thirteen million and growing, that our production is growing at
the rate of somewhere ab. out five per cent per annum, and that our
industry has now become much more diversified and stable than
ever before. So we you and I have got every reason for confidence,
and I believe they have confidence in us too. In short, I think
I was able to point out to them that we know where we're going
and we know how to get there. They understand co'ar problems and
thev understand the outlook for the future. It is a future in which
via should have absolute confidence, and I want to express to you
tonight my personal confidence too.
So as I said, we pointed out to them we know where we're
going. I hope thie Australian people will accent the fact we know
where we ' re going and we will get there and I am sure in a way
that will be satisfactory to you.
Good evening and thank you.