PRI1F T471NISTER' IS SPEDCXH AT THAI-AUSTRALIA ILUNCHEM DUSIT THMAHNO! T1E L
1 FEBRUARY 1974.
I have had many occasions in A~ ustralia and overseas to stress, not
just the change of policies of the new Australian Government, but the
continuity vithin thot changre. Continuity within change is one of the
themes of this current journey. Its re-assertion is one of the purposes
of this visit. The relations between Thailand and Australia perfectly
illustrate that theme. Thailand itself is a splendid example of national
continuity within change, and of chanre within continuity and never more
truly than in this crucial time in Thailand's long history, a time when men
and worren of goodwill around the world are drawinG new hope, new encouragement,
from the events in our region.
Change of quite revolutionary dimension has been the very dssence of
the recent history of our region. One has only to consider that less
than 30 years ago, of the six nations on may current itihierary, Thailand
alone was independent. Or consider that in the great area from the old
north-west frontier of India to the shore of the South west Pacific an
area containing nearly a quarter of the world'Is people Thailand and
Australia alone were not under colonial rule. This is one measure of the
scope of change we have lived with and are still living with. The yearning
for true national independence, for national dignity, which called this vast
change into being is still the most powerful force in our region. That
spirit has preserved the national identity and independence of Thailand for
700 years. It is the sort of spirit which the Australian Government brings
to its own affairs and to Australia's relations with its neighbours, its
friends and its allies. " le have tried to understand the aspiration of
others as we wish others to try to understand our own aspirations.
The Governments of both our countries have changed relatively recently.
Of course we have both changed many of our policies. We are both striking
out on new paths. But in both nations there is also a basic continuity of
policies. Certainly in the case of Australia most publicity has naturally
been given to the changes, to the new directions. Yet it cannot be
stressed too much or too often that there is a basic continuity in the
conduct of Australian affairs.
Many of our decisions have been responses to developments in the
relations between the great powers. We have tried to adapt prornpt~ y and
intelligently to the new realities, particularly in our region. In some
matters, such as normalisaition of relations with China, we have been able
to move more rapidly than some of our neighbours, including Thailand, but
there can be no mistaking the direction events are leading us all. While
developing new relations not just with China but in Akfrica and Latin
-imerica and Eastern Europe we have strengthened old friendships as well.
This is very much the Case with Thailand.
We don't believe it is good enough that Australia should regard
countries like Thailand and her Asian partners merely as some sort Of
military buffer placed by geography for Australia's convenience. We have
defence arrangements with such countries. We continue to: But we want
them to be viewed in the perspective of our total relation with the region.
Far from losing interest in Thailand, the fact is that there has never been
greater mutual interest and wider exchanges between the two countries than
there is now. This interest is growing on both sides. Australia attaches
great importance to the continuing well-being of an independent and forwardlooking
Thailand, a Thailand playing an 8ctive and cooperative role in the
region and adjusting its policies skillfully to the developing international
situation. Australia and Thailand are expanding their cooperation in all fields.
More Australians than ever before Eire coming to Th. oiland in my own case
this is my eighth visit in the last fourteen years. M~ any Thais have
studied in kustralia and more will come in the future. This co-operation
has developed steadily over nearly 50 years, since Australia established a
mission in Thailand. That mission was one of the first Australian posts
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to be opened in South-East Asia. A high point in the development of
our relations was the visit to Aiustrilia in 1962 of Their Majesties the
King and Queen of Thailand. Wehave Palso been gre,-t+. y honoured tha~ t His
Royal Hi; hness The Crown Prince is furthering his education in ! Lustralia.
Australions and Thais have for twenty years been co-operating in the
development of Thailand. I number of joint projects are being undertaken
in different areas of the country through the Australian aid program.
Consultations have recently taken place between officials of our two
governmnents on another important and innovative project. Through the
efforts of HRH the Princess Mother, voluntary medical units have been set
up in many provinces to improve health services for people in outlying
areas. However, due to difficulties of communication, medical treatment
is not readily available to large numbers of people in reilote areas a
similar situation to that in A~ ustralia which led to the creation of the
Royal Flying Doctor service. I am happy to announce that, in response to
a request from the Government of Thailand, the Australian Government will
support the Princess Mother's pioneering medical volunteers project by
providing ambulances and radio transceivers. ' he hope that a pilot project
to determine the exact requirements of the communications network will
proceed in the near future. As a further example of co-operation
Prime Minister Sanya and I # wv* 1i deoided in principle on a cultural
agreement between our two countries.
Quite recently the Australian Government held discussions with ASEANI
representatives in Bangkok on possible Australian assistance to ASEAN
projects. Right now my colleague, the Minister for Education, is in
Bangkok for the Conference of South-East Asian Ministers of Education
Organisation at which we were represented for the first time we an
associate member. We recently participated for the first time in the
Ministerial Conference for the Economic Development of South East Asia.
We are co-operating with the Mekong Scheme with its headquarters in Bangkok,
which has such great potential as an instrument for the reconstruction of
Indochina. In the wider region, we share common membership of ECAFE with
its headquarters also in Bangkok. Later on I shall be making reference to
SEATO, but I mention these other matters now to show how far we have moved
from a restricted and restricting concept of our relations as being only,
or even mainly, preoccupied with defence and security. Both our countries
have a well-rounded relationship with each other. Both are anxious to see
that it ripens and matures.
To illustrate this, let me say something of our trade and conomio
relationships. There are long established and valued economic links
between t'ustralia and Thailand. Our total trade of some dollars A43 million
last year is not as largesas we would wish, but it has shown a rapid rise in
recent years. For our part, we are confident that s uch growth will
continue. We recognise, moreover, that trade must be viewed as a two-way
flow. We have taken a number of initiatives to ensure that countries such
as Thailand will have considerably greater opportunities, and greater
encouragement, to sell to the Australian market. Last year we reduced all
Australian tariffs by 25 per cent. In addition, from the beginning of this
year, wme have introduced for the benefit of developing countries a scheme
whereby those countries will receive additional preferences in the Australian
tariff. We will continue to increase both the scope of the scheme and the
margins of preference we accord until we are satisfied that the developing
countries have achieved a competitive position in the Australian market.
For this purpose my Government is establishing a facility within the
Australian Department of Overseas Trade to provide market research and to
handle trade inquiries for countries such as Thailand. I invite the
Government of Thailand to make use of it. Let me remind you also that we
recognise the importance you attach to receiving fair and reasonable prices in
international markets for your primary products. Uur support in international
forums for the basic justice of such an approach is well kniown and will
continue.
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Next a word about overseas investment. -Australia recognises that
in the right circumstances Australianlri) tG investment overseas can make a
positive contribution to the industrial development of the host country.
Although Australia in the past has not been a significant generator of
capital for investment in overseas countries. We expect more activity
in this area in the future. We believe, however, that every country
should have the right to regulate foreign investment in accordance with
its own national aspirations and social and economic objectives. It is
a right we exercise ourselves in relation to foreign investment in
Australia. For that reason we have recently announced that we will seek
to encourage Australian private investment overseas only where-it is fully
welcomed by the host country, where it will be favourable to the country
in which it is made, and where it will be consistent with advanced labour
relations and local environmental policies.
I have aid that Australia and Theiland have a well-rounded
relationship which we want to see ripen and mature. We are bringing this
approach to all our other relationships in the region. It is by
understanding this basic approach thot one can best understand the changes
we have made. I can illustrate it by reference to some of the more
notable of our policies.
I mention the United States. We have an important defence treaty
with U. S. and New Zealand but the American alliance should never have been
regarded as the be-all and end-all of Australia's defence ard foreign
policies and it should never have been viewed solely or principally as a
defence association. Yet there developed in Australia over a generation
a tendency to view all matters beyond our shores through the single narrow
focus of China. What we are now trying to do is widen the range of our
vision not to downgrade the importance of our friendship with the U. S.
but to upgrade the importance of other relationships, above all in Lsia.
We believe we are thereby creating a more mature partnership. And we
believe that frankness is the best basis for friendship. We expect
franknesss We intend to be frank.
I should also refer to our relations with Japan. We are widening
them beyond economics alone, important to both countries as that aspect is.
Japan is Australia's bigest customers We are. Japan's second biggest
customer after the United States. Obviously therefore, Australia's
prosperity is closely linked with Japan's. We recognise Japan's need
for secure access at fair prices to the raw materials her industries need,
and so much of which Australia can provide. At the same time, the
Australian people want a fair say and a fair share in the control and use
of our own resources, just as the Thai people recognise that investment
and trade relations between States not merely the States of our own
region henceforth take account of the welfare and aspirations of the
peoples of those States and cannot be based solely on business criteria.
alone. I come now to China. Australia's new relations with China are
based on the rejection of the relevance today of the DWlles concept of
military containment of China. The war of intervention in Vietnam was
created by that doctrine skid destroyed that doctrine. SEATO itself was
originally the treaty expression of the doctrine. Clearly our view of
the con~ cept which gave birth to SEATO influences our view of SEATO's present
role. When we addressed ourselves to this matter on assuming office 14
months ago it was urged upon us that withdrawal by Australia would damage
confidence in the area. ' With an understanding of the position of Thailand
particularly in mind, and the importance Thailand attaches to the Manila
Treaty, we therefore agreed to work within the organisation for modification
of its operation and orientation: Underpin confidence, Yes., underwrite
containment, no. And with the co-operation and agreement of all members,
this is what we have done.
Finally I mention our attitude towards regional arrangements and
associations. Of all those in this region, AS= AN is unquestionably the
most important, the most releva~ nt, the Most natural. & ustralia does not
seek to be a member of ASEON, though we have close bi-lateral and regional
relationships with all its members. My present tour takes me to four
ASEhN capitals. . with each member country and with Indonesia, our nearest
neighbour, we are developing ever-increasing co-operation at all levels,
including defence co-operation. Australia is playing a co-operative
role in the other regional associations I mentioned earlier. We are
strengthening all our bi-lateral~ relations in the region and are seeking
new forms of regional co-operation. Increasingly I believe the nations
of the Asian and Pacific region will in the future come to see the need for
a 7wider forum than presently exists where all who have a commnon interest and
a oommon destiny in the region can meet regularly, quietly and constructively.
On this matter I just say two things heret Nobody, least of all me, believes
that any new arrangements will come into being overnight.., And secondly,
nobody, certainly not me, believe that any such arrangements should or
could supplant or absorb ASEAN.
I recognise too that the continuing conflict in Indochina our hopes
of a year ago being still unfulfilled represents a major obstruction to
any plens for new arrangements in our region. But ' the need remains, and
I believe that perception of that need will grow and sharpen.
It should be plain therefore that the direction of our decisions and
hopes are outword-looking, regional and truly international. It is
absurd to suggest that Australia is going isolationist when the whole thrust
of our policies is towards greater international co-operation than ever
before, towards deeper interests in a great number some of them nations
which have hitherto scarcely made a scratch upon the Australian consciousness.
New interests do not mean a loss or lessening of old interests. They mean
rather a widening of Australian awareness, a realisation by Australians of
their capacities, their responsibilities and their opportunities.
Australia has not grown weary of international involvement, whatever our
disillusionment as a result of Vietnam.
That experience, the Vietnam experience when Australian youth
decided no longer to to'. erate the intolerable, just as the youth of
Thailand, in a very different context, did so decisively last October
still deeply influences our judgments upon the affairs of this region and
the responses we believe we should make to events in this region. What
a strange government we would be if our attitudes, declared throughout a
decade when we were powerless to act, were discarded the moment we had the
power to translate those attitudes into action. That would have been true
unpredictability, true irresponsibility.
Decidely Australia has not grown weary of being involved: Vie have
simply come of age. We draw a distinction between constructive involvement
and counter-productive intervention. I hope that what myr Government has
been able to show is an Australian capacity for self-renewal, just as this
ancient Kingdom. is demonstrating its capacity for renewal and resilience,
for change in a world of change, without rejecting its traditions but rather
involving the very essence of its national tradition as the instrument of
ordered change itself.
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