4-7
Press Statemnt 24th April, 1975
PRIME MINISTER'S OVERSEAS VISIT
The Prime Minister, Mr. Whitlau, left Australia on
23rd April to attend the Commonwealth H-eads of Government
Meeting in Kingston, Jamaica, and to pay official visits
to Peru and the United States.
He will return to Australia on 11th May. His
itinerary is attached.
Before leaving Australia, Mr. Whitlam reaffirmed
Australia's support for the Commonwealth as a unique multiracial
grouping. He said that the Commnonwvealth was a
voluntary association of 34 independent states, each
responsible for its own policies, but consulting and
co-operating in the common interests of their peoples to
promote international understanding and world peace. He
noted also the important non-governmental links which
existed between professional and other associations in
Commonwealth countries.
The Australian Government, he said, attached
particular importance to the development of co-operative
international arrangements of this kind which would operate
free from special allegiances to power blocs.
He was looking forward to a detailed exchange of
views on changing power relationships as well as world
trade and financial matters, which would be important
subjects for consideration at this meeting.
During his visit to Washington, Mr. Whitlam will
meet President Ford and Dr. Kissinger, as well as members
of the House International Rel~ ations Committee and the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee. 2
This will be his second meeting with President
Ford in just over six months providing a good opportunity
for discussion of developm-ients in power relationships,
particularly in Indo-China, in the intervening period.
Mr. Whitlam's visit to Peru will be the first
by an Australian Prime Minister to South America. In
Peru he will hold talks with the President, General Juan
Velasco Alvarado and the Prime Minister, General Morales
Bermudez. He will also visit historic Machu Picchu.
Mr. Whitlam said that Peru was an important
Pacific state which had played a major r-ole in matters
concerning the law of the sea and in the non-aligned
movement. It was also a mem~ ber of the Organisation of
American States and the Andean Group of States. Australia
has observer status with both organisations.
PRIME MINISTER'S_ ITINERARY
23rd April
24th April
26th April
27th April
7th May
8th May May
11th May
8.00 p. m. Sydney to Tahiti
Tahiti to Lima
Arrive Lima
Visit Cuzco and Machu Puechi
Lima to Kingston
Kingston to Washington
Washington to Tahiti
Tahiti to Canberra
Arrive Canberra
This will be his second meeting with President
Ford in just over six months providing a good opportunity
for discussion of developments in power relationships,
particularly in Indo-China, in the intervening period.
Mr. Whitlam's visit to Peru will be the first
by an Australian Prime Minister to South America. In
Peru he will hold talks with the President, General Juan
Velasco Alvarado and the Prime Minister, General Morales
Bermudez. He will also visit historic Machu Picchu.
Mr. Whitlam'. said that. Peru was an important
Pacific state which had played a major role in matters
concerning the law of the sea and in the non-aligned
movement. It was'also a member of the Organisation of
American States and'the Andean Group of States. Australia
has observer status with both organisations.
At. "' k
S I
PRIME MINISTER'S ITINERARY
23rd April
24th April
26th April
27th April
7th May
8th May May
llth May
8.00 p. m. Sydney to Tahiti
STahiti to Lima
Arrive Lima
Visit Cuzco and Machu Pucchi
Lima to Kingston
Kingston to Washington
Washington to Tahiti
Tahiti to Canberra
Arrive Canberra