PM Transcripts

Transcripts from the Prime Ministers of Australia

Whitlam, Gough

Period of Service: 05/12/1972 - 11/11/1975
Release Date:
23/01/1973
Release Type:
Media Release
Transcript ID:
2790
Document:
00002790.pdf 1 Page(s)
Released by:
  • Whitlam, Edward Gough
AUSTRALIAN RATIFICATION OF NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION AND SEABED ARMS CONTROL TREATIES

l'' W
M 7 O0U NQ DATE
23 January 1973
AUSTRALIAN RATIFICATION OF NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFEATION
AND SEABED ARMS CONTROL TREATIES
0The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr E. G. Whitlam, announced
today that arrangements had been made for Australia to ratify two
Treaties relating to the control of nuclear weapons the Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Seabed Arms Control Treaty.
Mr Whitlam said that instruments of ratification were being
deposited today by Australian representatives in the three depository
capitals, London, Washington and Moscow.
" This action fulfills a pledge I gave on behalf of the
Government in my first week in office," Mr Whitlam said.
" It reflects the Government's strong and unequivocal support
for efforts to check the spread of nuclear weapons, and for the
principles of arms control contained in the two Treaties."
Mr Whitlam said that to fulfill the principal requirement of
ratification of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Australia was
already negotiating with the International Atomic Energy Agency for
a Safeguards Agreement, which would provide practical arrangements to
prevent the non-peaceful use of nuclear material.

2790