PRIME MINISTER'S PRESS CONFERENCE
COLOMBO 15 DECEMBER 1974
FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF PRIME MINISTER'S PRESS CONFERENCE
HELD AT 0830 HOURS SUNDAY, 15 DECEMBER.
REPORTER: REGARDING THE POLICY OF IMMIGRATION YOU HAVE AT THE MOMENT
IN AUSTRALIA WE SEE THERE IS A KIND OF CURTAILMENT. THERE
IS A KIND OF HUNCH OR SOME PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THE SETTLERS IN
AUSTRALIA, FEEL THAT ALTHOUGH YOU STILL HAVE THIS CURTAILMENT
ON THERE IS A KIND OF PREFERENCE TO SOME OF THE PEOPLE COMING
FROM THE WEST WHICH IS A SORT OF UNDECLARED POLICY OF THE
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT. I'D JUST LIKE TO FIND OUT WHETHER THIS
IS CORRECT OR NOT?
PRIME MINISTER:
THERE IS A CURTAILMENT IN THE OVERALL IMMIGRATION TO
AUSTRALIA BECAUSE OF UNEMPLOYMENT WHICH.. IS AT PRESENT
IN AUSTRALIA NOW BUT THERE IS NO CURTAILMENT ON REGIONAL OR
RACIAL GROUNDS. THERE HAS BEEN A CURTAILMENT PERCENTAGE
WISE IN RESPECT TO EUROPEAN MIGRATION JUST AS MUCH AS THERE
HAS BEEN IN RESPECT TO MIGRATION WITHIN OUR REGION. ONE OF
THE FACTORS WHICH ENTITLES A PERSON TO COME AS A MIGRANT
TO AUSTRALIA IS THE FACT THAT HE HAS CLOSE RELATIVES IN
AUSTRALIA NOMINATING HIM SUCH AS PARENTS, CHILDREN OR
DEPENDANT BROTHERS OR SISTERS. THERE WOULD VERY LIKELY BE
MORE SUCH PERSONS IN AUSTRALIA FROM EUROPE THAN FROM THE
./ 2 N
I K>
REGION BUT, NEVERTHELESS, THE QUALIFICATIONS ARE THE SAME
AND HAVE BEEN SINCE MY GOVERNMENT WAS ELECTED TWO YEARS AGO
IN RESPECT OF ALL PEOPLE SEEKING TO COME TO AUSTRALIA. I
THINK THERE ARE MANY THOUSANDS I'M NOT SURE THERE'S NOT
ABOUT 30,000 PEOPLE IN AUSTRALIA WHO HAVE COME FROM
SRI LANKA.
REPORTER: IF I MAY JUST ADD ONE MORE QUESTION TO THAT. WHAT WOULD
HAVE BEEN THE CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE CURTAILMENT WERE THEY
POLITICAL OR a*
PIAME MINISTER:
ECONOM IC.
REPORTER: MR PRIME MINISTER, YOU ARE A FIRM SUPPORTER OF OUR PRIME
MINISTER'S INDDAN OCEAN PEACE ZONE IDEA. WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS
ON BUILDING OF THE DIEGO GARCIA BASE. THE DIEGO GAR'CIA BASE
ANGLO-AMERICAN BASE IN THE INDIAN OCEAN?
PRIME MINISTER:
YES, WHEN WE CAME INTO OFFICE WE VOTED IN THE UNITED
NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN FAVOUR OF SRI LANKA'S PROPOSAL
FOR A ZONE OF PEACE IN THE INDIAN OCEAN. THE PREVIOUS
GOVERNMENT HAD NOT VOTED FOR OR AGAINST THE PROPOSAL. IT
HAD ABSTAINED IN THE VOTE UPON IT. WE REMAIN OF THE VIEW
THAT IT IS HELPFUL IF THE TWO GREAT POWERS, THE UNITED
STATES AND THE SOVIET UNION, THE TWO GREAT NAVAL POWERS IN
THE WORLD DO NOT INCREASE THEIR FORCES IN THE INDIAN OCEAN.
WE RESIST THE ESCALATION OFI OR ANY CONFRONTATION BETWEEP
THEM. WE HAVE MADE IT PLAIN IN BOTH WASHINGTON AND MOSCOW
THAT THAT IS OUR VIEW. I'VE MADE IT PLAIN IN WASHINGTON A
COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AND I WILL BE DOING IT IN MOSCOW IN ONE
MONT H. * K:~
UNV.
: N
N
N x.\
A N
' S
REPORTER: AS A FOLLOW UP TO THIS QUESTION MAY I KNOW YOUR REACTIONS
ABOUT THE RECENT CENTO EXERCISES IN THE INDIAN OCEAN CENT0,
CENTO EXERCISES.
PRIME MINISTER:
I WOUIN'T EXPRESS A VIEW ON THE CENTO ONES I'M
NOT FAMILIAR ENOUGH WITH THEM AND, OF COURSE, WE AREN'T
A MEMBER OF CENTO.
REPORTER: IN YOUR DISCUSSIONS LAST NIGHT WITH OUR PRIME MINISTER
DID YOU SUGGEST THAT SRI LANKA SHOULD JOIN ASEANO
PRIME MINISTER:
THE TALKS BETWEEN THE PRIME MINISTER AND ME WERE JUST
BETWEEN US, THERE WERE NO OTHERS THERE AT ALL THEY WERE
PRIVATE. SO I THINK THAT YOU OUGHT TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS
LIKE THAT IF I MAY SUGGEST IN THE FORM OF '" DO I -FAVOUR
ANY SUCH PROPOSAL?"'
REPORTER: NEVILLE DE SILVA NEW YORK TIMES
ONE OF THE OBJECTIVES OF THE INDIAN OCEAN PEACE ZONE
PROPOSAL IS TO SEE THAT THE INDIAN OCEAN IS FREE OF FOREIGN
MILITARY BASES. IT IS NOT INCONSISTENT THAT YOU SHOULD
SUPPORT THE PEACE ZONE PROPOSAL WHILE YOU PERMIT FOREIGN
BASES TO EXIST ON YOUR TERRITORY? I REFER IN PARTICULAR TO
THE NORTH WEST CAPE BASE.
PRIME MINISTER:
THERE IS ONL Y ONE MILITARY BASE ON AUSTRALIAN TERRITORfY.
IT IS THE U. S. NAVAL COMMUNICATIONS STATION AT NORTH WEST
CAPE. IT WAS ESTABLISHED UNDER A 25 YEAR ARRANGEMENT MADE
IN 1963. IT THUS HAS 14 YEARS TO RUN. I DON'T BELIEVE THE
ARRANGEMENT WOULD HAVE BEEN MADE THESE DAYS. THERE HAVE
BEEN SOME NECESSARY AND ACCEPTABLE ALTERATIONS MADE TO IT
SINCE MY GOVERNMENT CAME INTO OFFICE. I SIGNED THOSE
0 0 / 4 Sz'
N S
N'
N N
-4-
ARRANGEMENTS, I EXPECT THEY WILL BE MADE STATUTORY IN THIS
COMING YEAR, THE ARRANGEMENTS ARE THERE AND, OR COURSE,
ONE CANNOT BREAK ARRANGEMENTS.
REPORTER: ROBERT HAUPT AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW.
POLLOWING MR DE SILVA'S QUESTION, COULD WE TAKE IT FROM
YOUR REMARKS THAT IF YOU WERE IN POWER WHEN THE NORTH WEST
CAPE AGREEMENT COMES UP FOR RENEWAL YOU WILL DO EVERYTHING
IN YOUR POWER TO END THE ARRANGEMENT.
PRIME MINISTER:
THIS IS TOO SPECULATIVE I WON'T ANSWER THAT. THAT'S
14 YEARS AHEAD. I EXPECT TO BE IN RETIREMENTTHEN. I WILL
RET'RF MIDWAY BETWEEN NOW AND THAT TIME.
REPORTER: HOW WILL YOU REGARD OUR PRIME MINISTER AS THE LEADER OF THE
NON-ALIGNED NATIONS.
PRIME MINISTER:
MRS BANDARANAIKE HAS PLAYED A LEADING ROLE IN THE WHOLE
NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT. SHE AND PRESIDENT TITO I BELIEVE,
ARE THE ONLY HEADS OF GOVERNMENT OR HEADS OF STATE WHO HAVE
ATTENDED ALL FOUR NON-ALIGNED CONFERENCES. I BELIEVE, IT
IS A VERY FITTING TRIBUTE TO MRS BANDARANAIKE'S STATUS IN
THE WORLD AND IN THE NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENTt THAT SHE WILL BE
THE HOSTESS TO THE NEXT CONFERENCE HERE IN COLOMBO IN 1976.
REPORTER: U. P. I.
MRPRIME MINISTER, ANY CHANCE OF AUSTRALIA PARTICIPATING
IN THE NEXT W4ON-ALIGNED CONFERENCE?
PRIME MINISTER:
WE AREN'T A NON-ALIGNED COUNTRY BUT WE WOULD BE VERY
HAPPY TO ATTEND IF WE WERE INVITED AS AN OBSERVER.
REPORTER: NEVILLE DE SILVA NEW YORK TIMES
WOULD YOU CARE TO COMMENT ON MR BREZHNEVS PROPOSAL FOR
ASIAN COLLECTIVE SECURITY SYSTEMS.
PRIME MINISTER:
NO. THE PROPOSAL WAS MADE ABOUT THREE YEARS OR SO AGO
NOW. I WOULD RATHER SEE WHAT THE PRESENT OBJECTIVES OR
PROPOSAL ARE I CAN DO THAT WITHIN A MONTH. I'D RATHER
HEAR DIRECTLY, SOON, RATHER THAN COMMENT AT THIS DISTANCE
FROM THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL.
REPORTER: MANIK DE SILVA CEYLON DAILY NEWS.
PRIME MINISTER:
VERY GOOD EDITORIAL YESTERDAYGOODo
REPORTER: COULD YOU KINDLY COMMENT ON FUTURE SRI LANKA/ AUSTRALIAN
RELATIONS? PARTICULARLY IN THE CONTEXT OF YOUR HAVING MET
OUR PRIME MINISTER LAST NIGHT.
PRIME MINISTER:
I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE VERY GOOD OPPORTUNITIES FOR
MAKING THE RELATIONS BETWEEN SRI LANKA AND AUSTRALIA MORE
DIRECT AND SUBSTANTIAL THE PRIME MINISTER ASKED ME TO VISIT
CEYLON WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS OF MY BECOMING PRIME MINISTER.
IT WAS ONE OF THE VERY FIRST INVITATIONS I RECEIVED. I
THINK I CAN SAY THAT I CAME TO KNOW THE PRIME MINISTER QUITE
WELL AT OTTAWA LAST AUGUST, DURING THE MEETING OF THE
COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT. MY WIFE WAS THERE AND
MRS BANDARANAIKE'S DAUGHTERS WERE THERE AND SO NOT ONLY DURING
THE CONFERENCE WHICH EXTENDED OVER, I THINK, SEVEN WORKING
DAYS, BUT ALSO THE INTERVENING WEEKEND AND AT VARIOUS OTHER
OCCASIONS ONE OF WHICH WAS HER GRACIOUS INVITATION TO ME TO
HAVE LUNCH WITH HER. I THINK I CAN SAY WE CAME TO KNOW EACH
OTHER QUITE WELL. IT'S BEEN, OF COURSE, A VERY GREAT PLEASURE
6
oN
FOR ME TO SPEND SOME HOURS WITH HER LAST NIGHT. SHE HAS BEEN
A HEAD OF GOVERNMENT FOR LONGER THAN MOST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD.
SHE BECAME THE HEAD OF GOVERNMENT, OFCOURSE, IN 1960
AND HAS CONTINUED WITH A FIVE YEAR INTERVAL AND SHE REMAINS
A FIGURE OF VERY GREAT INTERNATIONAL INTEREST BECAUSE SHE
WAS . THE FIRST WOMAN TO BECOME A PRIME MINISTER.
REPORTER: DE SILVA
PRIME MINISTER:
ANOTHER DE SILVA. THE PORTUGESE INFLUENCE IS STILL
TERRIBLY STRONG HERE.
REPORTER: DO YOU SEE ANY FAINT SIGNS OF PROGRESS TOWARDS DETENTE
BETWEEN CHINA AND THE SOVIET UNION?
PRIME MINISTER:
I'D RATHER NOT COMMENT ON THIS MATTER. I'D OBVIOUSLY
BE IN A BETTER. POSITION TO MAKE AN ASSESSMENT IN A MONTH'S
TIME AFTER I'VE BEEN TO THE SOVIET UNION. I'M RELATIVELY
HOPEFUL THAT THERE ARE SUCH SIGNS. THE GREAT STEP TOWARDS
DETENTE RECENLY HAS BEEN THE MEETING BETWEEN MR BREZCHNEV
AND MR FORD IN VLADIVOSTOK.
REPORTER ( INDISTINCT)
PRIME MINISTER:
OH NO, NO, A TROIKA. ARE THERE ANY OTHER DE SILVA'S.
HERE? FOUR DE SILVAS A QUADRUMVERATE.
REPORTER: HOW FAVOURABLE DO YOU THINK YOUR RELATIONS ARE WITH THE
EUROPEAN COMMON MARKET? o,/ 7
7--
PRIME MINISTER:
THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC
COMMUNITY IS ONE OF THE THREE GREAT COMMERCIAL AREAS OF
INTEREST TO AUSTRALIA. IN VERY ROUGH TERMS ONE THIRD OF
AUSTRALIA'S TRADE TAKES PLACE WITH THE EECo ONE THIRD WITH
JAPAN AND ONE THIRD WITH THE UNITED STATES. CLEARLY, THEREFORE,
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO AUSTRALIA THAT SHE SHOULD BE AWARE
OF AND SHE SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMMON
MARKET. TRADITIONALLY, AUSTRALIA'S INTERESTS WITH THE MEMBER
COUNTRIES OF THE COMMON MARKET HAS BEEN IN AGRICULTURAL AND
PASTORAL PRODUCTS. NOW THERE IS A VERY GREAT PROSPECT OF
INTEREST IN MINERAL PRODUCTS. THE COMMON MARKET IS NATURALLY
CONCERNED WITH THE ENERGY CRISISo AUSTRALIA HAS VERY GREAT
ENERGY RESOURCES. THE ENERGY RESOURCE IN WHICH THE MEMBERS
Or fHE COMMON MARKET ARE MOSTLY INTERESTED IS URANIUM. WE
WOULD HAVE IN AUSTRALIA ABOUT ONE FIFTH OF THE KNOWN
PROVEN URANIUM RESERVES IN THE WORLD. FURTHERMORE, EUROPE
IS INTERESTED IN, FOR INSTANCE, OUR COAL TO A CERTAIN
EXTENT BECAUSE THERE hGAIN WE HAVE VERY GREAT COAL RESERVES
OF ALL SORTS FOR HYDROGENATION AND FOR STEAMING AND FOR
METALLURGICAL PURPOSESe THE LOT.. o. WE HAVE IN VERY GOOD
QUANTITIES AND EUROPE HAS MADE IT PLAIN BY DELEGATIONS FOR
INSTANCE, THE FOREIGN MINISTER OF THE EEC, SIR CHRISTOPHER
SOAMES, HAS BEEN TO AUSTRALIA AND IN A SOMEWHAT RELATED AREA
THE OECDt THE SECRETARY-GENERAL, YONKIER FARN-LINETTE
HAS BEEN TWICE TO AUSTRALIA. NOW IT'S BEEN VERY CLEAR TO
ME IN THE CONVERSATIONS WHICH I MYSELF HAVE HAD AND SEVERAL
OF MY MINISTERS HAVE HAD WITH SIR CHRISTOPHER SOAMES AND
MR FARN-LINETTE THAT THE COMMON MARKET IS VERY INTERESTED IN
THE DEVELOPMENT OF AUSTRALIA'S RESOURCES AND THE COMMON
MARKET'S PARTICIPATION IN THAT DEVELOPMENT. FURTHERMORE,
THERE IS THE GENERAL QUESTION OF TRADE AND INVESTMENT AND
DEVELOPMENT AMONG COUNTRIES OF THE COMMON MARKET OR
AUSTRALIA PATTERN THE OECD PATTERN. THE GREAT ECONOMIC
PROBLEMS WHICH BESET AUSTRALIA ARE JUST THE SAME AS THOSE
WHICH BESET THE COMMON MARKET COUNTRIES AND IN FACT, OF.
COURSE, ALL THE OECD COUNTRIES BECAUSE THE OECD CONSISTS
IN EFFECT OF THE COMMON MARKET, MOST OF THEM, AND
AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND AND JAPAN AND THE UNITED STATES AND
CANADA, SO IT ' S VERY IMPORTANT INDEED THAT THESE COUNTRIES,
AS I POINT OUT, THREE QUARTERS OF AUSTRALIA'S TRADE TAKES
PLACE WITHIN THE OECD CONTEXT AND MOST OF OUR INVESTMENT
AND TECHNOLOGY IS IN THAT CONTEXT. NOW IN THESE
CIRCUMSTANCES IT IS VERY IMPORTANT INDEED THAT AUSTRALIA
AND THE EEC SHOULD BE CONSTANTLY IN CONTACT,
REPORTER: FERNANDO
PRIME MINISTER:
ANOTHER PORTUGESE'. ANY MORE FERNANDO'S OR PERERA'S,
NO PERERA'S? RIGHT FOUR DE SILVAS, TWO FERNANDOSo
REPORTER: WHAT ARE YOUR RELATIONS WITH THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINA
AND HAVE THEY IMPROVED SINCE YOU BECAME PRIME MINISTER?
PRIME MINISTER:
CLOSE YES. MY GOVERNMENT WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS OF
COMING TO OFFICE NORMALISED RELATIONS WITH THE PEOPLES
REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND, MR BOWEN, THE SPECIAL MINISTER OF
STATE, THE MINISTER WHO ASSISTS ME, WENT TO CHINA IN THE
MIDDLE OF LAST YEARo I, MYSELF, WENT THERE WITH THREE OTHER
MINISTERS IN NOVEMBER LAST YEAR. THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER,
DR CAIRNS, WHO IS NOW THE TREASURER AND AT THAT TIME WAS THE
MINISTER FOR OVERSEAS TRADE, WENT THERE TWO MONTHS AGO.
THERE IS QUITE A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP NOW BETWEEN THE PRC AND
AUSTRALIA. THIS IS GROWING COMMERCIALLY AND CLEARLY, OF
COURSE, WE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHAT THE ATTITUDES OF CHINA
ARE LIKELY TO BE TO OUR NEIGHBOURS AND THE ATTITUDES OF OUR
NEIGHBOURS TO CHINAo IT'S SIGNIFICANT OF COURSE, THAT
THERE HAS BEEN A CONSIDERABLE MOVEMENT AMONG THE ASEAN
COUNTRIES TO NORMALISE RELATIONS WITH CHINA NOWo SUCH
RELATIONS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED BETWEEN MALAYSIA AND CHINA,
AND THERE HAVE BEEN TOP VISITS FROM THAILAND AND. THE
PHILIPPINES TO CHINA.
REPORTER: PRIME MINISTER:
WHAT'S YOUR NAME? i
REPORTER: TAMIL NEWSPAPER,
T1iE WESTERN NATIONS ARE MILITARILY AND PHYSICALLY STRONG
AND WEt IN OUR VIEWt WE ARE SPIRITUALLY STRONG. STRONGER
THAN THE MILITARY STRENGTH OF THE WESTERN NATIONS0 SO AS
W2: LL AS AUSTRALIA IS. CONCERNEDt WHICH ONE IT GIVES TOP
PRIORITY FOR THE SPIRITUAL SIDE OR THE PHYSICAL SIDE?
PRIME MINISTER:
I DON'T KNOW THAT ANY ANSWER I COULD GIVE TO THAT
QUESTION WOULD BE SATISFACTORY. I CERTAINLY OBSERVE AND
APLFtJD THE SPIRITUAL STRENGTH OF MANY COUNTRIES IN THIS
REGION. IT IS ONE OF THE VERY HOPEFUL SIGNS THAT THERE
ARE SEVERAL COUNTRIES IN THIS REGION WHICH HAVE THE
CONFIDENCE, THE DIGNITY, WHICH STEMS FROM HAVING CENTURIES
OF IDENTITY IN THE ONE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA AND THAT IDENTITYp
THAT CONFIDENCE, THAT SERENITY, HAS SURVIVED ONSLAUGHTS FROM
OUTSIDE, YOUR OWN COUNTRY HAS BEEN RULED BY THREE EUROPEAN
NATIONS, THREE GREAT EMPIRES IN THE LAST FOUR CENTURIES OR
SO. THE EMPIRES ARE GONE AND SRI LANKA REMAINS. THERE AREA
SEVERAL OTHER COUNTRIES WHICH HAVE THAT SAME CONTINUITY AND
COHESION AND IDENTITY IN A GEOGRAPHICAL AREA AND THEY ALSO
HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF HAVING OVER CENTURIES BEEN ABLE TO COME
TO SOME ACCOMMODATION WITH THEIR NEIGHBOURS WHO MAY BE
DIFFERENT IN RELIGION OR RACE OR HISTORY BUT, NEVERTHELESS,
HAVE A SIMILAR COHESION, IDENTITY AND CONFIDENCE, THERE ARE
GREAT ADVANTAGES IN THIS, THE OLD INTRUSION FROM EUROPE
TO DIVIDE AND RULE CAN NO LONGER APPLY.
REPORTER: WHEN YOU'RE . IN EUROPE, WHAT ASSURANCES WILL YOU BE GIVING
TO, PARTICULARLY ITALY AND GERMANY, REGARDING SUPPLY OF
AUSTRALIAN URANIUM AND THE SALE?
;' hfliff MINISTER
THE ATTITUDE THAT WE'VE TAKEN TO SUPPLYING URANIUM TO
THOSE COUNTRIES HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE PLAIN ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I U V.
FOR SOME TIME PAST BY MY MINISTER FOR MINERALS AN ENERGY.
THEY RELATE TO THE USES, THE PEACEFUL USES, THAT WILL BE MADE
OF NUCLEAR FUELS. THE DEGREE OF CONTROL EXERCISED OVER THEM
WITHIN AUSTRALIA, AND THE PROPER RETURN WHICH AUSTRALIA WILL
GET FROM THEM AND PARTICIPATION WHICH AUSTRALIA WILL GET IN THEM.
VERY OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD WHICH HAVE MUCH
GREATER TECHNOLOGY THAN AUSTRALIA CAN HOPE TO ACQUIRE IN THE NEAR
FUTURE OR WHICH, SAY JAPAN HAS AT THIS STAGE. NOW IN THESE
CIRCUMSTANCES, IT'S VERY MATERIAL TO DISCUSS THESE MATTERS ON THE
SPOT AND I'LL BE VISITING BRUSSELS, THE CAPITAL OF THE COMMON
MARKET, AND OF COURSE, ALSO GERMANY AND FRANCE AND ITALY AND
BRITAIN, ALL OF WHICH HAVE INTERESTS IN THIS MATTER, AND I'M
ACCOMPANIED BY SIR LENOX HEWITT, THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF MINERALS AND ENERGY, WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN ALL THESE
MATTERS IN ALL THESE COUNTRIES THROUGHOUT OUR TERM OF OFFICE0
REPORTER DE SILVA TIMES''
MAY I TURN FROM THE SPIRITUAL TO THE POLITICALo WOULD YOU
CARE TO COMMENT ON PAKISTAN'S PROPOSAL FOR A NUCLEAR WEAPON FREE
ZONE IN SOUTH ASIA.
PRIME MINISTER
WE SUPPORTED THIS PROPOSAL AS WE SUPPORTED ALL THE SIMILAR
PROPOSALS IN THE UNITED NATIONS IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS. IRAN
MADE ONE AND THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERALo
REPORTER LANKA DIVA
IN MORE OF THE SAME ( INDISTINCT) OF MR BREZHNEV'S SUGGESTION
OF COLLECTIVE SECURITY SYSTEM AND THE EXPANSION OF ASEAN
COMMUNITYo
PRIME MINISTER
WELL WE AREN'T A MEMBER OF ASEAN AND WHAT THE ATTITUDE " OF THE
MEMBERS OF ASEAN TO EXPANDING THEIR MEMBERSHIP MAY BE, IS A
MATTER FOR THEMo ASEAN HAS BEEN A MOST VALUABLE ARRANGEMENT AND
IT HAS DEVELOPED CONSISTENTLY OVER THE YEARSø AUSTRALIA WOULD
VIEW WITH FAVOUR ANY EXPANSION OF ASEAN. NOW WHICH COUNTRIES 0 ,0/ 11
-FRIN
SHOULD COME IN IS REALLY NOT FOR AUSTRALIA TO SUGGEST -IT IS N
FOR THE FIVE PRESENT MEMBERSO
REPORTER BEFORE THE SECOND WORLD WAR THERE WERE EIGHT MAJOR POWERS
GEIRMANY, ITALY, JAPAN, BRITAIN, RUSSIA, AMERICA AND ALL THOSE
THINGS. NOW IT IS R~ EDUCED TO TWO WORLD SUPER POWERS. THAT IS
BECAUSE OTP'THIS PHYSICAL CONFLICT. BECAUSE OF THE PHYSICAL
CONFLICT WORLD POWERS HAVE REDUCED TO TWO FROM EIGHT* SO IN
THAT CASE, EIGHT OF SUPPOSED COUNTRIES LIKE ASIA JOIN THESE
COUNTRIES OF ASIA THE OTHER NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES THAT MEANS
TO MAKE THE INDIAN OCEAN A FREE ZONE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
IF IT DESISTS FROM JOINING THE MILITARY PACTS I THINK IT WOULD N
BE VJERY HELPFUL TO THE BENEFIT OF THE FUTURE WORLD,
PRIME MINISTER
I'M NOT SURE IF I CAUGHT OR FOLLOWED EVERYTHING YOU WERE
PUTTING TO ME. I DOUBT IF THERE WILL BE ANY MORE MILITARY PACTS
IN THE WORLD, THERE HAVEN'T BEEN ANY NEW ONES FOR MANY YEARS
NOW. THERE WERE A FEW MADE IN THE 1960' S IN THE VIET-NAM
CONTEXT AND THE LESS SAID ABOUT THEM THE BETTERO* AND. THE ONES
THAT WERE MADE IN THE 50' S HAVE NOT REALLY BEEN EXPANDED MUCH
SINCE. I THINK THE DAYS OF MILITARY PACTS ARE NUMBERED. I DON'T
KNOW OF ANY WHICH ANY OF THE GREAT POWERS ARE NOW SEEKING TO
FORM.
REPORTER FERNANDO
MR PRIME MINISTER WOULD YOU CARE TO COMMENT ON THE OPPOSITION
TO YOUR OVERSEAS JOURNEY FROM THE HOME FRONT AND ALSO ON THE
REPORTED BOMB SCARE ON BOARD THE PLANE YOU ARRIVED ONO
PRIME MINISTER
OH I WON'T COMMENT ON THE FIRST BECAUSE THAT HAPPENS WJHENEVER
WE ARE STILL VERY PROVINCIAL, 1 MUST CONFESS0 AND
; O HE0OTHER ONE IT BEARS OUT THE WISDOM OF THE HEAD OF GOVERNMENT " N
CHARTERING HIS OWN PLANE IN THIS RESPECT. IF THIS BOMB SCARE
HAD BEEN MADE IN RESPECT OF A COMMERCIAL PLANE THEN THE WHOLE OF
THE JOURNEY WOULD HAVE HAD TO BE DISRUPTED. WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO
DELAY OR DEFLIGHT, 9 GO BACK TO BASEt UNLOAD AND SO. ON. BUT
WE KNEW FOR CERTAIN WHAT WAS ON THE PLANE, SO ANY SCARE LIKE
THAT WE KNEW TO BE A COMPLETE HOAX. YOU WOULDN'T KNOW IN THE
CASE OF A COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT BECAUSE YOU CAN'T BE CERTAIN WHAT
IS IN THE HOLDS OR THE LUGGAGE OR ON THE PERSONS OF THE PASSENGERS.
SO IT ' WOULD SEEM, IF ONE TRAVELLED COMMERCIALLY IT WOULD NOT
ONLY DISRUPT THE OFFI* CIAL PARTY IT WOULD INCONVENIENCE AND DISTRESS
THE UNOFFICI. AL 0 THE CIVILIAN PASSENGERS AS WELL.
REPORTER DID IT BOTHER YOU IN ANY WAYo
PRIME MINISTER
I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT UNTIL DURING DINNER LAST NIGHT. IT
DIDN'T PUT ME OFF THE FOOD.
REPORTER MR PRIME MINISTER MAY I ASK YOU A QUESTION ON CRICKET.*
YOU KNOW INDIA, PAKISTAN AND SRI LANKA ARE FORMING THE -ASIAN
CRICKET CONFERENCE BECAUSE SINCE MANY YEARS CEYLON, SRI LANKA HAS
BEEN TRYING TO GET INTO THE INTERNATIONAL CRICKET
CONFERENCE.
PRIME MINISTER
YE S
RE PORTER AND UNFORTUNATELY SHE HAS BEEN KEPT OUT BECAUSE AUSTRALIA
AND BRITAIN, I BELIEVE, HAVE A VETO POWER, IN THE INTERNATIONAL
CRICKET CONFERENCE. SO WE HAVE JUST FORMED THE ASIAN CRICKET
CONFERE NCE, WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS ON IT MR PRIME MINISTER.
PRIME MINISTER
WELL I9M VERY GLAD TO HEAR THIS. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT
AUSTRALIA AND BRITAIN HAD VETO POWERS IN THIS RESPECT I'M
0/ 13 K~]
K
EMBARRASSED TO HEAR IT. NEVERTHELESS AS YOU APPRECIATE THE
SPORTING ASSOCIATION ARE ENTIRELY VOLUNTARY ONES AS FAR AS MY
COUNTRY IS CONCERNED. IT'S TRUE MY GOVERNMENT IS NOW SUBSIDISING
INTERNATIONAL SPORTING CONTESTS AND I'D BE GLAD TO
KNOW IF THERE IS ANY SUCH VETO POWER BEING USED BY OUR CRICKET
ASSOCIATION. IF THERE IS, IT WOULD OBVIOUSLY AFFECT OUR VIEW
OF' THEIR ENTITLEMENT' TO ANY SUBSIDIES IN THIS RESPECT. NOW, 9
I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO GIVEt OR LEND, 9 A FAST BOWLER TO HELP
IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CRICKET IN THIS COUNTRY. ONE OF THE
REMARKABLE THINGS ABOUT THE OLD BRITISH EMPIRE WAS THAT ALL
ITS MEMBERS ARE HAVE DEVELOPED THIS FASCINATION WITH CRICKET.
NOW INDIA, AND PAKISTAN HAVE FOR A VERY LONG TIME. THE WEST
INDIES HAS AND I'M DELIGHTED TO HEAR THAT SRI LANKA IS DEVELOP-
.( NG IT TO O0 I'VE NO REASON TO THINK THAT THEY SHOULDN'T
BE 3 OUTSTANDING IN THE GAME AS INDIA AND PAKISTAN HAVE LONG
BEEN KNOWN TO BE, INTERNATIONALLY.
REPORTER CAN YOU ENLIGHTEN US ABOUT ANZUS THE PACT BETWEEN AUSTRALIA
AND NEW ZEALAND AND THE UNITED STATES ITS PURPOSES AND ITS
FUNCTIONS ANZUS.
PRIME MINISTER
YES., 9 ANZUS HAS BEEN THERE FOR WELL OVER 20 YEARS
NOW A ND IT ' S NEVER CALL ED I N QUESTIO0N I N AUSTR AL IA, NEW
ZEALAND OR THE UNITED STATES. THE FUNCTIONS OF IT, OF COURSE,
ARE WELL KNOWN THEY ARE SET OUT IN PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. THERE
IS AN ANNUAL, SOMETIMES MORE FREQUENT CONSULTATION BUT IT'S
JUST NOT A MATTER OF CONTROVERSY OR CHALLENGE IN ANY OF THE
THREE COUNTRIES.
REPORTER THANK YOU, PRIME MINISTER. 9 N