DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
INWARD CABLEGRAM O. BN1556 HU3
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FM. BONN
U N CL A S S I F I E D
PRESS CONFERENCE.
FOLLOWING TEXT PRIME MINISTER'S PRESS CONFERENCE, BONN, FRIDAY
17 JANUIJAY.,
BEGINS LADIES AND GENTLEMEN ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
B'I. DESPRESSEKONFERENZ AND ON BEHALF OF THE FEDERAL PRESS OFFICE,
IT IS MY PERSONAL HONOUR AND MY PRIVILEGE TO PRESENT TO YOU,
THF PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA, MR WHITLAM.
MR WHITLAM
Q. DID YOU HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MR BREZHNEV IN MOSCOW? IF
YOU DID, COULD YOU SAY WHAT WAS DISCUSSED? IF NOT, WERE YOU GIVEN
ANY EXPLANATION ' HY NOT?
NQ APPOINTMENT WITH MR BREZHNEV HAD BEEN ARRANGED. EACH DAY
THERE ' AS A MESSAGE GIVEN TO ME FROM MR BREZHNEV. I WAS TOLD ON
TH'-SECOND DAY THAT HE HAD A COLD AND WAS OUT OF TOWN.
Q. FOLLOWING YOU TALKS WITH THE SOVIET LEADERS, WHAT PROSPECTS DO
YOU FEEL THERE ARE FOR A ZONIE OF PEACE IN THE INDIAN OCEAN?
A. THE SOVIET LEADERS STATE THAT THEY WOULD LIKE A ZONE OF PEACE IN
THE INDIAN OCEAN. THEY ALSO ADD THAT THEY WOULD LIKE A ZONE OF PEAC
I' EVERY ONE OF THE WORLD'S OCEA. S. YOU WILL KNOW THAT AUSTRALIA
A( D, I BELIEVE, EVERY OTHER COUNTRY AROUND THE INDIAN OCEAN HAS
VOTED AT THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN FAVOUR OF SUCH
PROPOSALS WHICH HAVE COME, ORIGINALLY. FROM SRI LANKA AND MALAYSIA,
MORE RECENTLY FROM PAKISTAN AND IRAN. THERE MIGHT HAVF BEEN OTHi
SOURCES AS WELL.
INAUDIBLE QUESTION BUT REFERRED TO THE PRIME MINISTER'S ATTITiL.
E TO THE UNITED STATES' USE OF DIEGO GARCIA AS A BASE IN THE
INDIAN OCEAN? / 2
DEPARTNIEINT 0F [ O( R lIGN AFF., I RS
INWARD CABLEGRAM 2-0. I' 3NI556
~* tLSTRALIA. LIKE EVERY OTHER COUNTRY BORDERING THE INDIAN OCEAN
OR SITUATED IN THE INDIAN OCEAN9 H, ' S OBJECTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF
DIJ3O GARCIA. AUSTRALIA AND,, I 9ELIEVE, EVERY OTHER COUNTRY IN THE
INL) 16N OCEAN AND AROUND IT! 7 HAS. DEPLORED THE POSSIBILITY OF AN
i'NCRE4SE IN FORCES BY . THE TWO SUPER POWERS THE UNITED STATES AND
THE SOVIET UNION, THEY HAVE ALL SOUGHT TO ELIMINATE ANY POSSIBILITY
OF CONFROINTATION BETWEEN THEM, SOYIE OF YOU MIGHTN'T BE AWARE THAT
IASASKED A QUESTION PREVIOUSLY ON THIS BY AN AUSTRALIAN CORRFSPOfJENT
WHO WOULD HAVE HAD THE TFXT. BUT, OF COURSE, THE CORRESPO'NDENT
WHO JUST A3KED THIS QUFSTION-AND OTHERS TOO MIGHT NOT HAVE
THE TEXT OF THE C0MMUtI'QUE WHICH MOR ' AOSYGIN AND I ISSUED YESTEot-
L ON THIS SUBJECT. IT STATES ' BOTH SIDES EXPRESS THEIR READiNES3
TO PP'RTICIPATE TOGETHER WITH ALL INTERESTED STATES ON AN
E) UAI. BPASIS IN SEEKING A FAVOURA3LE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM OF M AKHLN~
3 THE INDIAN OCEAN AN AREA OF PEACE IN ACCORD AMCF WITH THE
PRINCIPLES OF INTERNATIO . NAL LAW.'
9. DO YOU BELIEVE THE ASSURANCE.) GIVEN TO YOU BY MR KOSYGIN THAT
RUSSIA DOES NOT HAVE ANY BASES IN THE INDIAN OCEAN?
A M3 KOSYGIN DID STATE THAT AND I HAVE NO CO ' 1ENT TO MAKE ON IT*
THIS MORNING YOU HAD A TALK WITH THE FEDERAL CHANCELLOR. DID
YOU DISCUSS ECONOMIC PRO3LEMS AND PARTICULARLY THE QUESTION OF
6USTRALIP'S SUPPLY OF URANIU111 TO THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY?
A. THE BUNDESKANZLER AND I DISCUJSSED MANY ECONOMIC MATTERS.
OB3VIOUSLY, GER-MNANY, 3.; ECONOMIC EXPERIENCE IS OF GSREAT SIGNIFICANCE
TO0 6-NY 4ESTERN COUNTRY BECAUSE T) 11-FEDERAL REPU! 3LIC S SUCCESS HAS
BEEN BY PAR THE GREATEST, ECONOMICALLY, OF ALL I-JESTERN COUNTRIES.
WE DID DISCUISS THE SUPPLY OF URANIU1M TO EUROPEAN COUMTRIE3.
ALSC, OF COURSE, I. E DISCUSSED THE ' SUPPLY OF BEEF TO EUROPEAN
CU N TR I ES. WE DISCUSSED THE GENERAL QUESTION OF WHAT COMMODITIES. 1
PRlr ARY AND YIINER. L. CAN BE SUPPLIED 3Y AUSTRPLIA TO EURO0PEAN COUiq-\\
TRIES AOJD THE GENE RAL TERMS OF WHICH SUCH SUPPLIES COULD TAKE PLACE.
THIS 14PS THE SEVENTH ViSIT THAT MY COLLEAGUES AND I HAVE MADE TO
MEMBER COUJNTRIES OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMM~ UNITY. IN EACH CASIE
IoE H,, VE FOUND SOME EMB RRASSMENT OVER THE FACT THAT THE COMrUNITY,
SPURSUANT TO THE HAS CUT OFF IMPORT. S OF MEAT FROM AUSTRALIA.
NOBODY HAS JUSTIFIED. THAT EXCLUSION OF AUSTRrL16N MFAT FRO', THE
EUROPEAN MA. RKET, IT TS TRUE, WE HAVEN'T VISITED DENMARK AND LL: XEMBO0U
RG WE DON'T KNOW THEIR VIEWS. IT IS POS3193LE THAT LUXEMBOURG
t* ND D) ENMARK CONTROL THE C. A. PO IN EVERY COUNiTRY, HOWEVER, 1" 1E
DID FIND A VERY GREAT -INTEREST IN THE SUPPLY OF URANIUM AND COAL
BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY REQUIRES ENERGY SOURCES. AUSTRALIA HAS
CONSIDERABLE ENERGY SOURCES. AUSTRALIANS. QUITE LEGITIMATELY I
BELIEVE,'% INT TO DEVELOP THOSE ENERGY SOURCES A5" FAR AS POSSIBLE IN
THEIR O' 4N COUNTRY. SO. QUI. TE CLEARLY, THS9E WERE MANY MATTERS THAT
Y. E WERE ABLE TO DISCUSS: THE ! 3UNDESKANZLER AND I. WE DIDN'T GET
AROUNJD TO ANOTHER SUBJECT WHICH I SUPPOSE W-OULD B3E OF INTEREST HEIRE.
999 / 3
DEPARTrMI: N' 0O: FOREIGN Ak-I.-XIRS
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CI'OMM MTUONLIDT Y. T HERAEU STISR ALNIOAT WENOOUULDG H BESU GAABRL E ATVOA ILSAUPP-. PLLEY FS ) URG ACRO NTSOU MTPHTEIO NC OMINM -THE N
U0 I TY. BUT, IN THI' CASE. TH{ E 70' MU41Ty r-Ay! S ' OH h! O. WE'LL
I~: apFTHE PRODUCTION OF OU'? S; UGAR.'' THE WONDERS OF THE
P. N" EVER CEASE TO AMAZE ME.
Q. W~ HILE YOU YEREF IN MOSCO'. i, PRIME MINISTER, THE TRADE prREEtel* NT
3F~' T'TTllH U. S. AND THE SOVIET UNION WAS CANCELLED BY THE SOVIET
U ' 1 N. 1, OL'LD YOU CONSIDER THIS TO BE A FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE OF
COU" NS" ON THE PART OF SOVIET POLICY OR WOULU YOU CONSIDER THIS * TO
'( IND OF TEMPOIARY EMfAi. Sv~ mr?
4. 1 DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS R PRSLE T N UDMNA HNEO
CO11IE 3Y THE SOVIET UNION . T THE Wd-OLE OF THIS QUESTION WAS
DPU3L~',.' IT. 4rl UU3ISEN AGB, j, Y MARND KOASFYTGEIRN~ J TOHNq TDUISECSUDISASYI CNA4FLT ERON OOmH. SIETHE STRESSED
r i! SOVI ET UNION I, ftc3 COMY. IITTFP TO RCIiNORCIVC TH7? POI ICY OF
D7-* P -NT' ' o.' ITH UNITED;' TATIES ! 3' I ! I FACT, BEr4EEN ALL COUt'TRIES. I
CCP0~' ~ F I DE " T THAT TI16T IS SFTTL D SOVIET POLICY. AT THE 3AX. E
IT .' vS QUITE CLEAR TO LS THAT ThE SOVIET UNION WOULD MIOT
~ Z~ r H' JACKSON AMENDMENT WHICH THE UNIITED S3TATES SENATE ATTACHEDp
TL;, THE ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT 3ETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE
.3U~ l'WiT IJNIO-N. TO uSE AN AU3TRALI AN PHR. ASE : IT WAS CLEAR TO US
LAS* T TUzSDPY AFTERNOON, THAT THE SOVIET UNION WOULD NOT COP THIS
AlylI~ l~ lI7 T.
Q-D1) IRINC-YOUR DIC53IN WITH HERR. SCIDrT. i THIS MviNING"', WER ANY
OTHER PROB3LEMS DISCUSSED?
A THF-! i ! OERE SONIE POLITICAL 03 DIPLOMATIC MA~ TTERS5 WHICH WE DISCUSSZE7'
OF INTFIREST TO QIUR TWO COUNTRIFS, OF COURSE.
Q. DID YOU GET THE PIPRES31ON! TIIAT REPORTS C-F M9 9REZH4NEV'S ILLNJ;
S1WE RE 6 SIG N OF A POWEVIR 9 EPLlC NimENT P11 TIOm ( nR ElL IN WERE
I N * 1 CCUR ATl, OR DIDO YOU SEE SOME S [ G NS INKDI CAT I NG THAT T HEY WERE:
A* I AM NOT GOI~ rW TO SP7ESCCHLTTR. IV rL~ UYTL
Y0' J 6 L L I KNOW.
A 3 ARESULT OF YOUR VISIT TO ', JEiT ,)'" EIL'NL WE NOY SEE
1:" 1CREASED LIRANIU'i EXPORTS TO WEST CE'? rv'. ANY?
Y,' E'VE NJEVER N-' 1DE ANY EXP~ ORTS TO WE9ST ( 19MANY YET I DON'T
9!--LIEVE TNitT WEST GERMANY HAS SOju'SHT TO BUY A'JY URANIUM. FiUT, 9
MARCH OR MAYBE AT THE ENE) OF FEPRIJARY, THERE WILL OF A VISIT 9Y
13 R[ ITI: Sii I D VEFRY L I KE L Y 4.3, SOCrI ATED DU11T CHII A ? I N 0OIICI A. LS TO0
ISI 13f'RALIA T10 DIS CUSS THIS QUESTION OF ENTICHM 6iNIT OF AUSTLR"-LIAN
URA'. JIUM~ IN AUSTRALIA. THIS IS PUI? SUJAllT TCO AN 4Y? RANGEME! T WHICH WAS
DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
INWARD CABLEGRAM it B N! 55.5
frjDF SET'-' EESPAUST'? tLlIA ANT' JA-PP,-It" ', OVEMlSEF? FOR~ A FEA~ SIBILITY STUDY
11' m THIS. VERY rOUE5TIONJ. I Hg4VF JL'ST BEAJl REN) INDEI) BY OUR ST. AATNi
FUR MlINFRALIEN UND FNE ) OIE THAT TH( ER) E HAVE BEEN SO0ME
no-' 16CH( ES BY GER[ . At COMPANIES TO BUY URANIUM FROM AUSTRAL IA. 13LUT
NO 3 L. FS HLPVE BEEN MlADE. THAT IS, NO CONTRACTS WERE MADE UNDER THE
EA;? LIE4 AUSTRALIAN GOVERNNENT OR BY THE PqWSC(, lT GOVERNME MT.
PRIMIE MINISTER, BONN MJARK53 [ HE-END OF YOUR EUROPEAN VISIT.
SUA-IWC3 UP, SIR, 141( 4T DO YOU THINK( YOU HAVE ACHIEVED IN THE VARIOUS
COUP~ fRIES HAS THERE BEEN QAIE PCIU. T OF INTEREC-ST THAT
EUROPE0~ LEbDERS C0LLECITIVE. LY i. AVE HAD IN AUSTRALIA? MNl
P. THIS HtS BEEN M~ Y FIRST VISIT TO THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC A3
1)) iE I~ i TER AND. ECEPT FOR A VIS3IT I MADE SOME 20 MONTHS AGO TO
B33jITfj. IT HAS BEEN THE FIRST VI *: 1T I HAVL" MADE A. P-' IMF MINISTER
TN 7T11! PR FE. N CCPNT3IES. M-NCYO LLEAGUE, MIR LIONEL BOWEN, 4IO AS
You 13OT'H, E~ rNI-,. STER ASSISTIPJG THE PRIME IIISTER. AL3O
Vlilf D LTt WHILE I HAD TO (; Or E) ACK T) AL ST3PLIA IN CONNECTION W 1. TH1
TH: rrl a CYCLONE DSTE. IN THE ELEVEN COUNTRIEs WE HAeVE
VISI1TED, THERE HPS SEEN A ,' ORE COMP'REHENSIVJE ATD THOROUGH PRESENT-N
PT[ O~ l OF THE AUSTRALIAN POINT OF VIEW THAN HAS EVER TAKEN PLACE
6T 6% Y TIME IN THE PAST. IT IS VcERY CLEAR TO U'S IN EACH COUNTRY
THA T 3Y ; AING A CMPREHEN-SIVE VI: 31T OF THIS ICHARACTER THE INTEREST
IN EkVERY COUNTRY '~ 3ENHANCED IN EVERY CASE. THERE l~ kfAfITCPTJO
ANI) EVEIOF YHAT YE HAD DONE ALREADY IN THE EARLIER VISITS r THAT
1'.' Ig! OEU LI) BE DOING IN THE VISITS WHICH STILL H! 0 TO TAKE: PLACE.
TH! IF C-10 BE NO IE-SrION~ TH. IAT ; Y 110'( ING A COMPREH-tENsivE VISI1T OF THI
CHA,?. CTER AT HEAD OF GOVEr NMEI1T LF'JEL, ONE ACHIE-VES A CONCEN'TATION
UF PKETIN EVERY COUNTlY VISITED). IN EVE! R: Y CV3E, OF COUR-SE:,
'. H'VE VISITED THE HEAD OF ST THE HEAD OF rCOVERNIMENT, A D SENIlOR
N; Iv,, 1STF. qs ANJD SENIOR SECRETARY-CKJERALS AATu I'' IRECTOR-GENCRAL-S, A Air
I r I sn wr E CLE AR T 9 US THAT 4IJSTR AL IA M EANS MORE, 9 IT' S MORE F
' 3IG3'-. TFIC~ llNT, TO EACH OF THEFSE COUNIT*:. c THAPI ! N-s THE CASE B3EFORE.
WE -PE. OF COURSE, VIERY APPRECIATIVE OF THEP ETO WE HAVE HAD IN
EA11 RUJT WE 9ELIEVE P. U13T1LI NOW U* KrNOINi AN UM b-STOO)
sEi'fEi THA'~ HAD) FVE 3EEM T CASE3F E ORE.
i'HVJK' YOU V! F-Y MUCH, Plilt E 1NI NISTER.' sN