DEPARTTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
INWA1G. CABLEGRAM
IN S6 1.15903
FR OM TOD 01.2.74... 2345 LT
AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY TOR 02.2.74... 0501 LT
EA NG KOK 535 UNCLASSIFIED
PRIME MINISTER'S PRESS CONFERENCE9 BANGKOK, I FEBRUARY 1974.
PRIME MINISTER
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
I HAVE OFTEN SEEN THE PRESS IN NIGHTCLUBS BEFORE BUT THIS IS THE
FIRST TIME I HAVE GIVEN THEM A CONFERENCE IN ONE.
I HAVE HAD SOME HOURS NOW IN CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUR PRIME
MINISTER LAST NIGHT AT THE RECEPTION AND AT THE DINNER AND
ENTERTAINMENT9 AND THIS MORNING WITH HIS AND MY OFFICIALS AT
GOVERNMENT HOUSE.
WE WERE AFLE TO DISCUSS A VERY GREAT NUMBER OF MATTERS IN A MOST
R: NDLY AND FRANK FASHION.
THE LAST TIME WE HAD BEEN TOGETHER WAS IN THIS CITY NINE YEARS
AGO AT A MEETING OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION OF JURISTS.
HE MADE SOME AUSTRALIAN FRIENDS AT THAT TIME IN THE LEGAL AND
ACADEMIC SPHERES WHICH HAVE GIVEN HIM A VERY GREAT INTEREST IN
AUSTRAL IA.
I HAD LOOKED FORWARD VERY MUCH TO MEETING HIM BECAUSE HIS NAME
IS GREATLY HONOURED RIGHT ROUND THE WORLD SINCE HE GOT SUCH OBVIOUS
PUBLIC AND ROYAL APPROVAL ON 14 OCTOBER.
THE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE THAI GOVERNMENJ_ AND THE AUSTRALIAN
GOVERNMENT, I AM SURE, ON A PERSONAL LEVEL9 AT THE TOP LEVEL, WILL
EE VERY HAPPY AND FRUITFUL INDEED.
THERE ARE TWO PARTICULAR MATERRS WHICH I MIGHT MENTION TO YOU AT
THIS STAGE.
THERE IS THE PROSPECT, IN THE QUITE NEAR FUTURE, OF A CULTURAL
AGREEMENT BETWEEN OUR TWO COUNTRIES AND ALSO A TRADE AGREEMENT
RTWEEN OUR TWO COUNTRIES.
I HAVE MENTIONED THE PRIME MINISTER'S INTEREST IN AUSTRALIA IN
ACADEMIC AND LEGAL MATTERS.
HE IS NATURALLY9 THEREFORE9 VERY MUCH DISPOSED PERSONALLY TOWARDS
A CULTURAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN US.
THE AGREEMENT WILL COVER, AMONG OTHER THINGS9 THE PROVISION OF
FACILITIES BY EACH COUNTRY IN THE OTHER COUNTRY FOR THE CITIZENS OF
EACH TO LEARN THE LANGUAGE OF THE OTHER.
THERE WILL ALSO BE ARRANGEMENTS9 WE EXPECT, FOR EXCHANGING MEN
AND WOMEN OUTSTANDING IN SUCH FIELDS AS MUSIC, RADIO, TELEVISION9
FILMS9 ARTISTIC EXCHANGES AND ALSO IN SPORTING MATTERS.
IN REGARD TO THE TRADE AGREEMENT, OUR OFFICIALS ARE NOW PURSUING
THIS MATTER AT THE OFFICIAL LEVEL.
THE PRIME MINISTER SHOWED HIMSELF VERY MUCH AWARE OF THE
I,' ITIATIVES MY. GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN IN RECENT MONTHS AND IN FACT
U ' 0 THE VERY EVE OF MY DEPARTURE FROM AUSTRALIA, IN PROMOTING
M-' iY'ERS OF TRADE AND, WHERE DESIRED, INVESTMENT, ? RODUCTION OF
TARIFFS OVERALL BY AUSTRALIA, REDUCTION FURTHER BY AUSTRALIA ON
TARIFFS, ON GOODS COMING FROM DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, PROMOTING THE
TRADE COMMISSIONER SERVICE IN THAILAND, THE MAKING AVAILABLE OF
. ACILITIES IN TRADE BY AUSTRALIAN OFFICIALSO
I MENTIONED SOME OF THESE MATTERS IN MY SPEECH AT LUNCH TIME.
. o o 2
DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
INVVARD CLEGRAM I. 15903
ASI( LMAE DIES AND GENTLEMEN, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS YOU WOULD LIKE TO
THE AUSTRALIAN JOURNALISTS HAVE BEEN AROUND WITH ME AND WILL
CONTINUE TO BE AROUND WITH ME, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY I
KAVE EVER HAD FOR A PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE HANDS OF THAI
JOURNALISTS, OR INTERNATIONAL PRESS STATIONED IN BANGKOK, SO CAN THEY
SrART. IT WOULD HELP ME IF YOU WERE TO LET ME KNOW YOUR NAMES WHICH I
MIGHT NOT CATCH IMMEDIATELY AND YOUR JOURNALS WHICH I HOPE I WOULD.
PRIME MINISTER9 YOU HAVE MADE SEVERAL STATEMENTS ABOUT THE
AMERICAN BASES IN THAILAND.
COULD YOU CLARIFY YOUR POSITION ABOUT IT?
PRIME MINISTER
MORE SIGNIFICANTLY STILL I BELIEVE IS THE FACT THAT THE ROLE OF
THE BASES HAS CHANGED.
MY GOVERNMENT AND BEFORE IT BECAME THE GOVERNMENT, MY PARTY,
HAD HAD VERY GREAT QUALMS ABOUT, NOT ONLY QUALMS9 THE STRONGEST
O3JECTION TO BOMBING BY THE UNITED STATES AIRFORCE.
A GREAT DEAL OF THIS BOMBING TOOK PLACE FROM BASES IN THAILAND.
I FIRST BECAME AWARE OF THIS WHEN I VISITED UDOM IN JUNE OR
J1LY 1965o
AT TH4AT TIME, THERE WAS A FLIGHT OF AUSTRALIAN AIRFORCE FIGHTERS
SATIONED AT UDOM.
AT THAT TIME, I SAW THE RELATIVELY SMALL BEGINNINGS OF THE UNITED
STATES BOMBING OVER NORTH VIETNAM.
MY PARTY HAS ALWAYS HAD THE STRONGEST OBJECTION TO AMERICAN
BOMBING. IT THOUGHT THAT MILITARILY IT WAS INEFFECTIVE.
MORALLY, IT WAS MONSTROUS.
S ' WE REGRETTED THAT THAI AIR BASES WERE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.
THEY NO LONGER ARE AND I AM SATISFIED THERE COULD BE NO
RESUMPTION OF AMERICAN BOMBING IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD.
THERE IS A NEW SITUATION THEREFORE.
Q. COULD YOU PLEASE TELL US WHAT USE AUSTRALIA NOW SEES IN SEATO?
( UNCLEAR)
PRIME MINISTER:
WE HAVE NO OBJECTION TO THE MANILA TREATY.
I WISH PEOPLE WOULD READ THE PREAMBLE TO THE MANILA TREATY.
IT EXPRESSES VIEWS AND PRINCIPLES WHICH WERE AND STILL ARE
VALID. SUCH MATTERS AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.
THE MANILA TREATY IS SOUNDTHE
SEATO -ORGANISATION EMPHASISED AN ASPECT WHICH NO LONGER IS
REL EV A NT.
.0.3
DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
INWARD CAK3LEUGRAM 1. 15903
SEATO AROSE OUT OF THE DULLES POLICY OF MILITARY CONTAINMENT OF
THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA.
THAT DOCTRINE LONG CEASED TO HAVE ANY VALIDITY.
IT WAS -JVEN THE COUP DE GRACE BY DR KISSINGER AND THEN PRESIDENT
NIXON VISIT ING THE CAPITAL OF CHINA.
MY GOVERNMENT CAME TO OFFICE AND THE NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT9 AT
THE SAME TIME, RESOLVED TO DISMANTLE THE RESIDUAL ELEMENTS OF THAT
DOCTRINE AS EMBODIED IN SEATO.
WE SPENT SOME MONTHS IN CONSULTING WITH THE SURVIVING MEMBERS OF
THE MANILA TREATY ON THIS ISSUE AND THE RESULT WAS THE NEW
ARRANGEMENTS WHICH WERE MADE IN NEW YORK BETWEEN THE VARIOUS FOREIGN
MINISTERS LAST SEPTEMBER.
NY GOVERNMENT IS CONTENT WITH THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS.
I THINK THEY HAVE BEEN FULLY CONSUMMATED WITHIN THE LAST WEEK.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE THAI STUDENTS THAT ARE GOING TO
AUSTRALIA AND HAVE TO HAVE A TEST IN ENGLISH BECUASE THAI IS NOT
%-ALAYSIAN OR INDONESIAN THEY HAVE TO SPEAK ENGLISH MORE THAN THEIR
Q'JN LANGUAGE9 SO A THAI FINDS IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SPEAK THE ENGLISH
LA ; G UA G E
ALSO9 WHAT IS THE POSITION ABOUT DISCRIMINATION OF A LOT OF THAI
WO. IEN MARRIED TO MEN IN AUSTRALIA.
THEY FIND IT A BIT DIFFICULT TO LIVE AMONG THE ' AUSTRALIANS.
HOW WOULD YOU HELP THEM WITH THESE THINGS?
PRIME MINISTER:
THERE ARE TWO MATTERS WHICH THE LADY RAISES.
THE SECOND ONE I HAVE NO COMMENT TO OFFER.
I HAVE NO IMPRESSION WHATEVER THAT WHERE A THAI CITIZEN HAS
MARRIED AN AUSTRALIAN CITIZEN THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN HAPPY WHETHER
THE' WERE LIVING IN AUSTRALIA OR IN THAILAND.
THERE ARE MANY MARRIAGES OF WHICH I AM AWARE AND THEY HAVE ALL
EZEN VERY HAPPY MARRIAGES.
I WOULD NOT THINK THERE IS ANY DIFFICULTY IN EITHER COUNTRY FOR
THE PARTNERS IN SUCH MARRIAGES.
THE OTHER MATTER ABOUT THE USE OF9 OR THE FAMILIARITY WITH
ENGLISH FOR STUDENTS AT AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITIES IS A MATTER OF WHICH
I HAVE ONLY BECOME AWARE OF IN THE LAST 24 HOURS.
I HAVE DISCUSSED IT WITH OUR AMBASSADOR HERE AND I HAVE DISCUSSED
IT WITH MR. BEAZLEY9 OUR MINISTER FOR EDUCATION WHO HAS FOR THE
LAST FEW DAYS BEEN ATTENDING SEAMEO9 THE MINISTERIAL MEETING OF
MINISTERS OF EDUCATION IN SOUTH-EAST ASIA WHERE WE AND NEW ZEALAND
WERE ADMITTED FOR THE FIRST TIME AS ASSOCIATE MEMBERS.
SO MR. BEAZLEY IS AWARE OF THIS SITUATION ALSO.
NEXT WEEK9 MR0 GRASSBY9 MY MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION9 WILL BE
VISI1' ING BANGKOK AND THE AMBASSADOR WILL DISCUSS THIS MATTER WITH
HI l0 S09 I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT MY MINISTER FOR EDUCATION9 MY MINISTER
FOR IMMIGRATION AND 19 MYSELF ARE NOW AWARE OF THIS MATTER9 AND FOR
MYSELF9IT IS ONLY NOW THAT I HAVE BECOME AWARE OF IT.
.00 4
I) I_ 1ARTMIENT F01F OREIGN AFFAIRS
NWARD CABLEGRAM
4-I. 15903
PERHAPS I CAN HELP IF I MAKE A FEW GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ABOUT IT.
IN ALL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN AUSTRALIA, ENGLISH IS THE ONLY
LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION.
AND, AT THE UNIVERSITIES IT IS OBVIOUSLY NECESSARY TO HAVE A
THOROUGH COMMAND OF ENGLISH IF ONE IS TO PROFIT FROM ANY OF THE
COUR SE S.
WE HAVE ABOUT 10,000 STUDENTS FROM OVERSEAS AT AUSTRALIAN
UNIVERSITIES. ABOUT 8,500 OF THESE OVERSEAS UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN AUSTRALIA
COME FROM HONG KONG OR FROM SINGAPORE OR FROM MALAYSIA AN' IN EACH
CASE NEARLY ALL OF THEM ARE PERSONS OF ETHNIC CHINESE ORIGIN.
IN EACH CASE, HONG KONG, SINGAPORE9 MALAYSIA, THEY ARE
THOROUGHLY FAMILIAR WITH THE USE OF ENGLISH.
AT THIS STAGE9 SECONDARY EDUCATION AND TECHNICAL SECONDARY
EDUCATION SUCH AS PROFESSIONAL AND SCIENTIFIC COURSES AS DISTINCT
FRO1" CULTURAL COURSES AND HELD IN ENGLISHo
ACCORDINGLY, STUDENTS FROM THOSE COUNTRIES ARE ABLE TO
FARTICIPATE IN LECTURES AND SEMINARS AND COURSES AT AUSTRALIAN
UNIVERSITIES WITHOUT ANY DIFFICULTY WHATEVER.
IT IS OBVIOUSLY AND REGRETTABLY MUCH MORE DIFFICULT FOR STUDENTS
erPOM OTHER COUNTRIES9 WHICH DON'T PRIMARILY USE ENGLISH9 TO
FARTICIPATE IN THOSE LECTURES AND SEMINARS AND COURSES.
IT MIGHT NOT MATTER SO MUCH, SAY, IN THE CASE OF INDONESIA
FECAUSE IT IS RARE FOR INDONESIANS TO UNDERGO EDUCATIONAL COURSES
CVERSEAS BEFORE THEY ALREADY HAVE ONE UNIVERSITY DEEREEtuAjND RS
[ 1, LE OFPOICY9 THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT ENCOURA DETS T
iHEIR FIRST DEGREE IN INDONESIA AND MAYBE DISCOURAGES THEM
FROM COURSES BEFORE THE UNIVERSITY DEGREE.
THE OTHER ASEAN COUNTRY, THE PHILIPPINES, HASNT LOOKED VERY MUCH
TO AUSTRALIA FOR ADVANCED EDUCATION BUT TO THE UNITED STATES.
I THEREFORE HAVE BECOME AWARE OF THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM AS
REGARDS THAILAND.
THERE ARE TWO PARTICULAR FEATURES ABOUT THAI EDUCATION WHICH
WOULD DISTINGUISH IT FROM SOME OTHER COUNTRIES IN RESPECT TO OVERSEAS
SF UD IES.
THE FIRST IS THAT THAI STUDENTS WHO HAVE GOT OVERSEAS
QUALIFICATIONS OVERWHELMINGLY GO HOME AFTER THEY HAVE ACQUIRED THOSE
QUAL IFICAT IONS.
THERE IS, THEREFORE, NOT THE DIFFICULTY WHICH IS SOMETIMES
ENCOUNTERED IN RESPECT TO STUDENTS WHO COME FOR UNIVERSITY DEGREES IN
AUSTRALIA OF THEIR NOT WANTING TO GO BACK TO THEIR OWN COUNTRY.
THERE HAS BEEN SOME MISUNDERSTANDING OR EVEN ILL-FELLING BETWEEN
AUSTRALIA AND SINGAPORE ON THIS ISSUE.
SINGAPORE HAS COMPLAINED OF A '' BRAIN DRAIN''.
NOW THIS WOULD NOT APPLY IN THAILAND.
AT LEAST go PER CENT, I AM TOLDO OF THE THAIS WHO OBTAIN OVERSEAS
CUALIFICATIONS GO BACK TO THArLANDø
THAILAND HAS THE VERY GREAT ADVANTAGE OF HAVING HAD9 FOR CENTURIES,
INDEPENDENCE AND IDENTITY.
THE STUDENTS ARE PRIMARILY PATRIOTS WANTING TO GO HOME TO SERVE
TAEIR FELLOW CITIZENS.
0 C
DEPARTMENT'I OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
INWARD CABLEGRAM I. 15903
THE OTHER QUITE UNUSUAL FEATURE ABOUT THAI STUDENTS OUTSIDE THEIR
COUNTRY IS THAT THEY GO AT A MUCH YOUNGER AGE.
SO MANY THAI STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED BY THEIR FAMILIES TO GO TO
SCHOOL IN OTHER COUNTRIES, NOT JUST TO GO TO UNIVERSITIES. OR COLLEGES
BUT TO GO TO SCHOOL.
ONE OF THE OBJECTIVES IS TO OBTAIN A WORKING FAMILIARITY WITH
ENGLISH OR OTHER LANGUAGES WHILE THEY ARE STILL YOUNG AND ADAPTABLE.
THERE ARE NOT SO MANY SECONDARY STUDENTS FROM THAILAND IN
AUSTRALIA. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME HUNDREDS, THERE ARE STILL SOi\ E HUNDREDS,
THERE ALWAYS WILL BE I HOPE A VERY GREAT NUMBER OF THAI STUDENTSo
WE WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT THIS ASPECT OF HAVING SECONDARY COURSES
FOR THAI STUDENTS.
NOW THERE ARE SOME TECHNICAL MATTERS ABOUT THE APPLICATION OF
THIS TEST WHICH I WILL HAVE TO LOOK INTO OR WHICH MY MINISTERS WILL
HAVE TO LOOK INTO WHEN THEY GO BACK TO AUSTRALIA.
WE ARE A FEDERAL SYSTEM IN AUSTRALIA.
THIS YEAR, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS ACCEPTED THE COMPLETE
FI . i. CIALR ESPONSIBILITY FOR EVERY UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE IN
ALL THESE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED
UNDER STATE LAWS, AND IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
TO LAY DOWN THE EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS, TESTS AND SO ON, WHICH APPLY
IN THESE UNIVERSITIES.
WE CAN PERHAPS LEAN ON THEM OR TO USE A TERM THAT I ONCE USED IN
ANOTHER CONNECTION, WE CAN NUDGE THEM, BUT WE CANNOT CONTROL THEMo
IT IS A MATTER WHERE WE CAN USE OUR INFLUENCESo
I AM GLAD YOU RAISED THIS MATTER, I MUST CONFESS I WAS NOT AWARE
OF IT UNTIL I SET OUT ON THIS JOURNEY.
IT IS A MATTER WHERE MY GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT WANT TO SEE THAT
THERE WAS ANY DISADVANTAGE FOR THAI STUDENTS AS AGAINST ANY OTHER
OJERSEAS STUDENTS IN AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLS OR UNIVERSITIES.
Qo
THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN NORTH-EAST
'-AILAND IN THE PAST TWO OR THREE MONTHS.
WITH REGARD TO YOUR REMARKS TODAY, I WONDER IF YOU WOULD COMMENT
ON THIS ON THE INCREASE OF COMMUNIST ACTIVITIES IN NORTH-EASTERN
THAILAND? WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM THE PRIME MINISTER OF THAILAND?
PRIME MINISTER
I HAVEN'T DISCUSSED THIS MATTER.
I HAVEN'T RAISED THIS MATTER AND IT HASN'T BEEN RAISED WITH ME,
WE HAVE BEEN LESS THAN A DAY HERE, BUT AT THIS STAGE I HAVE NOT
BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY DISCUSSIONS ON THIS ISSUE.
HAS OUR GOVERNMENT REQUESTED YOU TO ACT AS A MEDIATOR BETWEEN US
AND THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM?
PRIME MINISTER
NO.
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DPI'A\ RTMFENT 1OFFO REIGN AFFAIRS
INWA1RD CABLEGRAM I. 15905
Qo COULD YOU TELL US THE MEANING OF YOUR TRIP TO SOUTH-EAST ASIA
ESPECIALLY IN RELATION TO THE ASEAN NATIONS?
HOW IS AUSTRALIA GCING TO MAKE BETTER RELATIONS WITH ASEAN
TIONS? PRIME MINISTER
I SUPPOSE I CAN GIVE YOU AN ILLUSTRATION FROM THE MATTER THAT
THE LADY NEXT BUT ONE TO YOU RAISED.
S THIS QUESTION OF THE FAMILIARITY WITH ENGLISH WHICH IS REQUIRED
EFORE STUDENTS ARE ADMITTED TO OUR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING.
THAT WOULD BE A MATTER WHICH I CAN PROMOTE AS A RESULT OF
VISITING ONE OF THE ASEAN NATIONS.
THERE WERE SEVERAL MATTERS IN THE TRADE FIELD WHICH AROSE DURING
MY VISIT TO MALAYSIA.
'-lERE ARE MATTERS AS I MENTIONED IN THE CULTURAL AND TRADE
AGRETMENT FIELD WHICH HAVE COME UP IN THIS VISIT TO THAILAND.
AUSTRALIA'S RELATIONS WITH ALL THE ASEAN NATIONS ARE GOOD.
THEY ARE NOW TAKING PLACE ON A COLLECTIVE BASE ALSO.
IT WAS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO9 WASN'T IT, 9 THAT AUSTRALIA WAS
INVITED TO CONFER WITH THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF ASEAN COLLECTIVELY
ON ASEAN PROJECTS SO WHILE OUR BILATERAL RELATIONS WITH EVERY ASEAN
MNTION HAVE ALWAYS BEEN GOOD, WE ARE NOW DEVELOPING COLLECTIVE
RLATIONS WITH ASEAN NATIONS.
IT WAS ENCOURAGING FOR ME, ON THIS VISIT9 TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM
PROFESSOR SANYA HOW MUCH THE THAI GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS THE PRINCIPLE
WN:-CH ASEAN ADOPTED ON THE INITIATIVE OF MALAYSIA FOR A ZONE OF PEACE
' PODOMAN D NEUTRALITY IN THE ASEAN AREA GUARANTEED BY THE GREAT
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME SUGGESTIONS THAT THIS WAS A MATTER UPON
VHICH MALAYSIA WAS MORE INTENT THAN THE OTHER ASEAN MEMBERS.
T IS QUITE CLEAR TO ME NOW THAT THAILAND IS ALSO NO LESS INTENT
ON I SO A OSIT LIKE THIS ENABLES ME DIRECTLY AND PROMPTLY TO ACT
ON MATTERS WHICH CONCERN ASEAN NATIONS.
I THINK THIS IS THE GREAT ADVANTAGE OF A VISIT LIKE THIS TO FOUR
OF THEM WHICH I AM MAKING9 AND TO TWO OF THEIR. IMMEDIATE NEIGHBOURS
WHOM THEY WOULD LIKE TO ENROL IN ASEAN.
Qo
ALTHOUGH YOU HAVE STATED PUBLICLY THAT IT WAS NOT WITHIN YOUR
COUNTRY'S INTEREST TO JOIN ASEAN AND THAT YOU LOOK FORWARD TO A
LAPRGER GROUPING9 NAMELY ASEAN9 MY QUESTION IS WHAT HAS BEEN THE
ETiCRT ON THE PART OF YOUR GOVERNMENT IN TRYING TO ESTABLISH A LINK
P2: ATSHE AN, OR CAN WE EXPECT PERHAPS ON A TOKEN BASIS AN AUSTRALIAN
LINK WITH ASEAN IN THE NEAR FUTURE?
YOU WANT AN ASIAN FORUM SPANNING COUNTRIES IN THE PACIFIC TO
INCLUDE ALSO JAPAN AND CHINA BUT WHAT ARE THE CHANCES THAT JAPAN AND
CHINA UON'T DOMINATE IT JAPAN ECONOMICALLY AND CHINA POLITICALLY?
PRIME MINISTER
AUSTRALIAN HASN'T BEEN ASKED TO JOIN ASEAN BY ANY OF ITS MEMBERS
AND AUSTRALIA HASN'T ASKED TO JO, AS..
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RTNI'INT OF' FOREIGN AFFAIRS
INWARD CABLE GRAM 1. 15903
I WOULD EXPECT THAT THE ASEAN MEMBERS WOULD PROBABLY BELIEVE AND
AUSTRALIA WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT THERE ARE9 AT THIS STAGE9
TW'JO DISPARITIES ECONOMICALLY BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND EACH OF THE ASEAN
COUNTRIES OF SUCH SIZE THAT IT WOULD DISTORT THE GENERAL CONCEPT OF
ASEA N.
WE ARE VERY HAPPY AT THE PROGRESS THAT ASEAN HAS MADE BECAUSE IT
IS A NATURAL ASSOCIATION OF CONTIGUOUS NATIONS.
IT IS RELEVANT INCREASINGLY ANTD IT IS GROWING IN COHESION ALL
THE TIME. IT IS SATISFACTORY FOR ASEAN AND ALSO FOR AUSTRALIA THAT WE HAVE
BEEN ASKED TO CONSULT AS I JUST SAID ON ASEAN PROJECTS9 PROJECTS
WHICH ARE PUT UP ON A COLLECTIVE BASIS OR PROJECTS WHICH MIGHT AFFECT
MORE THAN ONE ASEAN COUNTRY.
NOW9 THOSE ARE FRUITFUL ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND
ASEA N.
THERE IS NO NEED TO MAKE THEM MORE FORMAL BY JOINING THE BODY.
ALL THE ASEAN ' ATIONS HAVE HAD ASSOCIATIONS AT ONE TIME OR
ANOTHER WITH REGIONAl.. ORGANISATIONS.
THERE WAS ASA9 THERE WAS MAPHILIND09 THERE WAS SEATO, THERE WAS
ASPAC. ASEAN IS THE ONLY ONE TO WHICH ALL THE PRESENT FIVE MEMBERS HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO ADHERE.
IT IS THE ONLY ONE WHICH HAS A GROWING FUTURE AHEAD OF IT.
THE WHO IDEA OF REGIONAL CO-OPERATION HAS HAD A LOT OF ATTENTION
IN EACH OF THE ASEAN MEMBERS UP TILL NOW9 BUT ASEAN IS THE ONLY ONE
THAT REALLY HAS MOMENTUM.
NOW YOU MENTION THE POSSIBILITY OF DOMINANCE ECONOMICALLY9
PCLITICALLY I DON'T KNOW WHAT OTHER WAY, IF THERE WAS A WIDER
ASSOCIATION IN SAY THE WESTERN PACIFIC OR IN SOUTH-EAST ASIA.
THIS CAN ALWAYS HAPPEN IN ANY ASSOCIATION.
I'LL GIVE AN INSTANCE OF AN ASSOCIATION THE FIRST ONE TO WHICH
AUSTRALIA BELONGS THE COMMONWEALTH OF NATIONS9 THE BRITISH
COMMONWEALTH OF NATIONS AS SOME PEOPLE MIGHT CALL IT.
NOW IT MIGHT BE THOUGHT THAT IN AN ORGANISATION OF ABOUT 34
RATIONS WHICH VARY IN SIZE FROM INDIA WITH HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF
POPU_ ATION, TO OTHERS WHICH HAVE LESS THAN ONE MILLION POPULATION9
', HERE WOULD BE TOO MUCH DISPARITY THAT ONE NATION WOULD DOMINATE
ANOTHER, THAT COUNTRIES WHICH HAVE A VERY LARGE INCOME PER HEAD OF
PCPLLATION LIKE BRITAIN AND CANADA OR AUSTRALIA OR NEW ZEALAND OR
SIAGAPORE WOULD BE ABLE TO DOMINATE COUNTRIES WHICH HAD A SMALLER
ItjCOME PER HEAD OF POPULATION,
IT DOESN'T HAPPEN.
IT IS VALUABLE FOR ALL OF THEM TO GET TOGETHER AND SEE WHAT THEY,
HAVE IN COMMON.
NOBODY THESE DAYS TALKS OF LEAVING THE COMMONWEALTH OF NATIONS.
EVERY COLONY9 ON BECOMING INDEPENDENT9 WANTS TO JOIN IT.
EVERY COUNTRY THAT BECOMES INDEPENDENT WHICH HAS BEEN RULED BY
SRITAIN OR THESE IS ONE THAT H:' S BEEN RULED BY AUSTRALIAq PAPUA NEW
GUINEA9 AS SOON AS THEY ARE IXD3EPENDENT THEY WANT TO JOIN THE UNITE
NATIONS AND THE COMMONWEALTH OF NATIONS.
08
D1I',.\ RTILNF 01: FOREIGN AFFAIRS
INWARD CAISLEGaAM 1. 15903
THEY ARE NOT WORRIED ABOUT DOMINATION.
THESE ARE NOT SUCH FORMAL BODIES.
THERE MIGHT BE SOME SUCH MISGIVINGS IN THE ORGANISATION OF
AMERICAN STATES WHERE, ON SOME ISSUES, SUCH AS CUBA9 IT MIGHT BE
THOUGHT THE UNITED STATES WANTED TO LEAN TOO HEAVILY ON THE OTHER
CEM B E R S.
IT MIGHT BE SAID SO IN THE ORGANISATION OF AFRICAN UNITY WHERE
YOU CAN GET VERY LARGE STATES, VERY RICH STATES9 LIKE NIGERIA, BUT
THEY DON'T TRY TO DOMINATE AND THEY ARE NOT RESENTED.
THERE ARE NO ALLEGATIONS THAT THEY ARE DOMINATING.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT ONE OUGHT TO BE NEGATIVE IN THESE RESPECTS0
IT IS ONLY BY REGULARLY AND INFORMALLY CONSULTING THAT WE REALLY
GT TO UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER.
IF WE HAVE BILATERAL VISITS, EVEN SUCH FAIRLY RELAXED ONES SUCH
AS THE ONE I AM ENGAGED IN AT THE MOMENT9 IT STILL LIMITS THE
OPPORTUNITIES THAT ONE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE BECAUSE YOU JUST CAN'T
MAKE VISITS AS OFTEN AS YOU WOULD LIKE.
BUT YOU CAN ALL PUT TIME ASIDE, ALL FOREIGN MINISTERS, OR HEADS
OF GOVERNMENT, CAN PUT TIME ASIDE ONCE EVERY YEAR OR TWO YEARS TO GET
TOGETHER IN BODIES SUCH AS THE COMMONWEALTH OF NATIONS0
AND9 I THINK THAT IN DUE COURSE WHEN, FOR INSTANCE9 THERE IS THE
ZONE OF PEACE9 FREEDOM AND NEUTRALITY, THIS WOULD MAKE A WIDER
ASSOCIATION VERY MUCH EASIER.
THERE ARE SOME OTHER SUCH ASPECTS SUCH AS THE DIFFERENCE IN
ATTTUDE TOWARDS CHINA.
EVERYBODY HAS TO RECOGNISE EITHER TAIPEI OR PEKING AS BEING THE
SAT OF GOVERNMENT OF CHINA.
NOBODY, BUT NOBODY, CAN RECOGNISE BOTH GOVERNMENTS.
EACH GOVERNMENT INSISTS THAT YOU RECOGNISE IT AND DISREGARD THE
OTHERO NOW9 WE HAVE MADE OUR DECISION IN THIS MATTER9 BUT WE DON'T
C'ERLOOK THE FACT THAT IT IS MORE DIFFICULT FOR OTHER NATIONS WHICH
MAY HAVE A LONGER HISTORICAL INVOLVEMENT.
0. REGARDING CHINA.
ONE OF THE IMAGES OF AUSTRALIA/ THAI DIPLOMACY WAS IN A STATEMENT
YOU MADE LAST YEAR SAYING THAT THAILAND SHOULD RECOGNISE MAINLAND
CHI NA. DO YOU SEE ANY CHANGE IN THAI DIPLOMACY ON THIS?
PRIME MINISTER
I DON'T REMEMBER EVER MAKING A STATEMENT THAT THAILAND9
INDIVIDUALLY9 SHOULD RECOGNISE CHINA BY WHICH I WOULD REGARD
IT AS INEVITABLE THAT SOONER OR LATER ALL THE ASEAN NATIONS SHOULD
AVE NORMAL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH PEKING AS THE SEAT OF THE
GOVERNMENT OF CHINA.
I WOULD THINK THAT IS iNEVITABLEO
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WOULD DISPUTE THAT IT IS INEVITABLE BUT IT
IS NOT FOR ME TO MAKE THE DECISION0
AFTER ALL, ASEAN IS NOT IN AGREEMENT AMONG ITS OWN MEMBERS ON TH$
ISSUE0 INDONESIA HAS NEVER SAID THAT GENERALISSIMO CHIANG KAI-SHEK WAS
THE PRESIDENT OF CHINAø
9
DE1.' ART.\ lE\ T F01F OREIGN \ FFAIRS
iNWARD CAB LEGRAM 1. 15903
TWO OTHER ASEAN NATIONS STILL SAY THAT HE IS.
TtOO OTHERS HAVE NEVER SAID WHO WAS THE PRESIDENT OF CHINA.
SO, IT SHOULDN'T BE NECESSARY TO POINT OUT THAT WE ARE IN A
COMPLETELY NEW BALL GAME SINCE THE 1TH OF OCTOBER.
EVEN BEFORE THAT DATE, THERE WERE CONTACTS BETWEEN BANGKOK AND
PEKING. THEY HAVE CONTINUED.
I BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE LIKELY TO PROVE PRODUCTIVE BUT CAN SEE
T-ERE ARE MORE DIFFICULTIES IN REGARD TO RELATIONS BETWEEN BANGKOK
AND PEKING THAN THERE ARE IN RELATIONS BETlWEEN CANBERRA AND PEKING.
ALL THAT WE HAD TO DO IN CANBERRA WAS TO SAY WHAT I SAID IN MY
PROGRAM FOR THE ELECTIONS 14 MONTHS AGO9 THAT WE WOULD MOVE
AUSTRALIA'S EMBASSY FROM TAIPEI TO PEKING.
WE HAD AN AMBASSADOR TO CHINA,
WE ACCREDITED HIM TO PRESIDENT CHIANG KAI-SHEK.
UHEN WE CAME IN9 WE DISCONTINUED THAT ACCREDITATION.
WE SOUGHT AND WE QUICKLY GAINED ACCREDITATION TO THE CHINESE
CDVERNMENT IN PEKING.
iT WAS RELATIVELY EASY FOR US.
WE ARE MORE DISTANT AND OUR ASSOCIATION IS SIMPLER.
Qo
WHAT IS YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE SOVIET PRESENCE IN THE INDIAN
CCEANq AND IF YOU HAVE CONSIDERED IT, HOW DO YOU EXPECT TO HANDLE IT?
BRIT-SAID THE DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY THAT CONFRONTATION BETWEEN
THE SUPER POWERS IN THE INDIAN OCEAN HAS TO COME9 THAT CEYLON'S AND
INDIA'S ATTITUDE OF A PEACEFUL INDIAN OCEAN IS UNREALISTIC..( UNCLEAR)
PRIME MINISTER
SWELLq I WON"? COMMENT ON WHAT THE LADY HAD TO SAY.
WE ARE ON THE INDIAN OCEAN IN AUSTRALIA AS WELL AS ON THE
PACIFIC OCEAN.
I HAVE NOT LOOKED AT THIS MATTER ON THIS VISIT.
I HAVE NO COMMENTS I WANT TO MAKE ON THIS VISIT9 BUT I DO NOT
WANT TO SPEAK IN THESE MATTERS IN TERMS OF THREATS AND SO ON.
THE FACT IS THAT SOME NATIONS HAVE QUITE LARGE NAVIES0
AS THE LAW OF THE SEA STANDS AT THE MOMENT9 THEY CAN SAIL THE
HIGH SEAS.
I WOULD NOT LIKE THE INDIAN OCEAN TO BECOME A SCENE OF
CONFRONTATION AS SAY THE MEDITERRANEAN HAS.
I BELIEVE WE WOULD HAVE THE SUPPORT OF MOST OF THE COUNTRIES IN
THE COMMONWEALTH OF NATIONS9 SO MANY OF WHICH LIE WITHIN AND AROUND
THE INDIAN OCEAN.
JUST AS THE AUSTRALIAN GOVER: MENT HAS POSITIVELY SUPPORTED THE
ASEAN INITIATIVE FOR A ZONE OF '; EACEq FREEDOM AND NEUTRALITY9 SO TOO
T" F AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT HAS POSITIVELY SUPPORTED THE SRI LANKAl'
FROPOSAL FOR A NEUTRAL INDIAN OCEAN5 AND AUSTRALIA IS A MEMBER OF
THE COMMITTEE WHICH THE UNITED NATIONS HAS SET UP TO PROMOTE THAT
CO NCE PT.
o. o00
1) 1 JA RTMr\ E NT 0 F FOR E IG N A FF1A IR S
INWARD CABLEGRAM 1. 15903
A/ PRIME MINISTER
FOREIGN MINISTER
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
MT'N AND DEPT DEFENCE
TREASURER AND TREASURY
J. 1. 0.
A. I S.
MED IA
AID OFFICE
O. JE%-AS TRADE
E CC K3 A Y INDUSTRY
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RF1 A ND C
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