4j)' A ) IHALIA
PRIME MINISTER PRESS STATEMENT NO. 410
December 1974
PRIME MINISTER'S OVERSEAS VISIT
The Prime Minister, Mr Whitlam, said today that
he had no intention of postponing again his visit to
Europe, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
The Prime Minister said that while Australia faces
a number of difficulties related to the economy, it would
be irresponsible to give the impression overseas and
indeed in Australia that the country was in such a
parlous state that the Prime Minister was unable to leave
it during the summer recess. Moreover, to cancel or
postpono again the visit at this stage would be a discourtesy
to Heads of Government of the host countries who appreciated
the necessity for deferring the visit in July, immediately
after the elections.
The Prime Minister said that there were many important
reasons why the visit should proceed at this time. In
addition to other matters which would be discussed he saw
considerable value in discussions on common economic problems
faced, not only by Australia, but by the developed countries
of Western Europe.
The Prime Minister said that at a time of crisis
in the world economy there was an urgent and continuing need
for leaders of Western countries to concert their economic
policies in the interests of stability and welfare.
One of the great dangers of the present situation
was that countries might feel themselves compelled to
embark on beggar-my-neighbour policies which could only lead
to economic disaster.
Policies of restricti * on policies that curtail
employment, production and welfare could be fatal to the
framework of the world economy as we knew it and could
threaten everywhere those liberal and democratic forms
that were so vital a part of our political heritage. / 2
-2-
The Prime Minister said that discussion of these
grave economic problems with European leaders at this
time was not a luxury but a responsibility which any
Australian Prime Minister should assume.
For this reason, too, he would be accompanied on
the visit not only by senior Foreign Affairs officials
and the Secretary of the Department of Overseas Trade,
but also by the Secretary of the Department of Minerals and
Energy and by a senior Treasury official so that
important matters affecting energy and the economy might
be fully discussed.
CANBERRA, A. C. T.