' EMBARGO NOT FOR RELEASE BEIVE .30 P. ( EST)
PRIME MINISTER
MACQUARIE NETWORK WEEKLY BROADCAST
BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE RT. HON. WILLIAM McMAHON, CH, MP
NUCLEAR TESTS 21 JUNE J972
Goodnight Lately there has bean considerable public comment and
controversy about the current series of French nuclear tests in the
Pacific. I want to explain to you, as clearly as I can, what
the facts are about tho Government's policy both on the French
nuclear tests, and on all nuclear tests in the atmosphere, as well.
No matter where they are undertaken and no matter which nation,
friendly or unfriendly conducts them.
I want to explain, too, the facts about Australia's
vote at the recent Environmental Conference in Stockholm. Once
you have these facts, I invite you to make your own judgment on the
many comments and opinions which are currently being heard on this
subject. Our oolicy on nuclear matters proceeds from the starting
point that Australia's role in nuclear energy is concerned with its
peaceful uses. The harnessing of the great force of nuclear energy
remains one of the great opportunities for gocd of our generation.
So we have a twofold objective We must learn to use
nuclear technology for peace, but we must also contain, and eventually
dissuade, its potential use for war and destruction.
As far back as 1963, a partial nuclear test ban treaty
was concluded. it was supported by many nations. This treaty
specifically bans nuclear tests in the atmosphere, in outer space,
and under water. Australia took its basic stand against nuclear tests
when it ratified this treaty. It should be unmistakeably clear,
therefore, that our attitude is most definitely not a new or a
belated one. Rather iq it a clear, firm and long-standing policy
introduced by, and supported by, successive Liberal and Country
Party Governments, particularly my own. / 2
-2
If anything, this strong opposition to atmospheric
testing which Australia expressed in becoming a party to the partial
test ban treaty nine years ago has become even stronger as time has
passed. In line with this long-standing policy of opposing the
tests, we have repeatedly conveyed to the French Government, through
the proper channels and in unequivocal terms the firm opposition of
the Australian Government and people to French nuclear tests in the
Pacific. Australia was the first country to protest against the
French tests in 1972. We have made that protest repeatedly since.
My Government is dedicated to upholding the partial
nuclear test ban treaty. That is our policy. It has not changed and
it will not change. At Stockholm, we abstained at first on a resolution
about nuclear tests because our primary purpose of opposing atmospheric
tests was already covered by that policy. As well, we did not think
the Environment Conference was the ideal forum to go into the
difficult technical issues underlying questions of disarmament and
world peace, including a more comprehensive treaty.
But because this action seemed to raise some doubts
about our central policy of opposition, we decided to once again
underline our fundamental opposition to all atmospheric tests for all
time by voting for the resolution whon it reached the plenary session
at Stockholm. I hope this establishes my and my Government's
position clearly. In the modern world, it is possible for nations to have
serious differences on some issues, while continuing to co-operate
on others. President Nixon's visits to Peking and Moscow are
examples. I very sincerely regret to say once again that France
has failed to respond, despite our co-operation with her in other
areas. We have taken every reasonable step we can to persuade France
to halt the tests. Last Friday, the day after I arrived back from my visit
to South-East Asia, !' had a personal message conveyed to the President
of France. On Monday, in Sydney, I shared a platform with the French
Ambassador to Australia. After hearing him speak, I felt obliged to
state that none of the explanations the Ambassador had given would,
in any way, or in any shape at all, change my own opposition or that
of my Government or that of the Australian people to nuclear tests
in the atmosphere. Lot there be no misunderstanding on this score. I and
my Government want the current series of tests abandoned. That has
been made as clear as crystal in the past few weeks and even as
recently as last night when Mr Marshall and I sent a joint message
to the Conference of the Commnittee on Disarmament in Geneva.
Thanks and Goodnight.