SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER,
THE HON. E. G, WHITLAM,
AT THE AUSTRALIAN-AM1ERICAN ASSOCIATION BALLA
SYDNEY, 4I JULY 1975
Two YEARS AGO ON 19 JULY 1973 THE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES, IN A MESSAGE TO THE PRIME MINISTER
OF AUSTRALIA, INVITED THE AUSTRALIAN PEOPLE TO JOIN
IN COMMEMiORATING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION ON ITS
200TH ANNIVERSARY. THE INVITATION SAID IN PART:
" THE PRESIDENT AND PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES HOPE
THAT OUR TWO COUNTRIES CAN USE THE OCCASION TO FOSTER
NOT ONLY PERSONAL CONTACTS BUT THE WIDEST POSSIBLE
RANGE OF FRUITFUL INTERCHANGE AMONG PEOPLE
IN THE REALMS BOTH OF IDEAS AND OF ACTIONS." i / 2
THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT ACCEPTED THAT
INVITATION WITH THE UTMOST READINESS AND PLEASURE.
SO YOUR FUNCTION THIS EVENING COMES ON THE EVE
OF WIDER AND MORE ELABORATE CELEBRATIONS PLANNED
FOR NEXT* YEAR, THOSE CELEBRATIONS WILL HAVE THE
SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE AUSTRALIAN
GOVERNMENT IN A NUMBER OF WAYS AND IN A MOMENTI
SHALL SAY SOMETHING OF WHAT WE PROPOSE TO DO.
THE BIRTH OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC WAS ONE OF THOSE
WATERSHEDS IN HUMAN HISTORY THAT WILL BE COMMEMORATED
BY. DEMOCRATS EVERYWHERE EXPECIALLY IN ENGLISH-.
SPEAKING COUNTRIES -FOR AS LONG AS DEMOCRACY SURVIVES.
IN TWO CENTURIES NOTHING HAS DIMINISHED THE POWER
AND SPLENDOUR OF THE WORDS OF THE AMERICAN DECLARATION
OF INDEPENDENCE, WITH ITS NOBLE CONFIRMATION OF HUMAN
DIGNITY, ITS UNFORGETTABLE AFFIRMATION OF THE EQUALITY
OF ALL MEN AND THEIR RIGHTS TO LIFE, LIBERTY
AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. THOSE WORDS, SO
FAMILIAR, YET FRESH AND IMPERISHABLE, STILL FIRE THE
HEARTS AND MINDS OF MEN -AND THERE WAS NEVER A TIME,
ISUGGEST, WHEN THEIR MESSAGE WAS MORE RELEVANT, MORE
NEEDEDITHAT IT IS TODAY.
I HAVE A NUMBER OF ANNOUNCEMENTS TO MAKE
THIS EVENING, SO I DO NOT WANT TO EXPATIATE FOR LONG
ON THE SENTIMENTS AND VALUES THAT UNDERLIE THIS
ANNIVERSARY. BEYOND QUESTION, THOSE SENTIMENTS, THOSE
VALUES DEMOCRACY, FREEDOM, THE RULE OF LAW ARE
DEEPLY AND PASSIONATELY HELD BY ALL OF US IN THIS ROOM,
AND BY THE VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICAN AND AUSTRALIAN
PEOPLE. BUT THERE IS A SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE IN THIS
OCCASION BECAUSE IT WILL BE ONE OF THE LAST TIMES
WHEN WE WILL HAVE THE COMPANY -AT LEAST IN HIS
PRESENT CAPACITY -OF A 63REAT AMERICAN, A GREAT
DIPLOMATIST, A GREAT FRIEND OF AUSTRALIA, AMBASSADOR
MARSHALL GREEN. I PAY A SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO HIM. I
FIRST MET HIM v4 1964 IN WASHINGTON AT A PRIVATE
DINNER; NEXT IN JAKARTA, HE WAS APPOINTED UNITED
STATES AMBASSADOR To AUSTRALIA IN 1973, SHORTLY AFTER:.
THE CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT, AT A TIME, ICONFESS, WHEN
IT WAS EASY FOR OUR TWO NATIONS, OLD FRIENDS AS THEY
HAVE ALWAYS BEEN, TO MISUNDERSTAND EACH OTHER't S PURPOSES.
THERE WERE EVEN SOME WHO LABELLED HIM A HATCHET MANI*
WHATEVER THAT MAY MEAN, SUPPOSE THERE ARE TIMES WHEN
ALL OF US MUST USE THE HATCHET, GEORGE WASHINGTON IS
SAID TO HAVE DONE so, BUT I MUST SAY THAT I FOUND HIM
UNFAILINGLY AMIABLE, COURTEOUS, UNDERSTANDING, SYMPATHETIC.
To AUSTRALIA, AND OF COURSE, AN AMBASSADOR OF THE UTMOST
PROFESSIONAL SKILL AND INTELLIGENCE. WE OWE A VERY GREAT
DEAL TO MARSHALL GREEN. No AMERICAN HAS DONE MORE TO
DEVELOP AND STRENGTHEN THE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND
THE UNITED STATES, AND TO PLACE THAT FRIENSHIP ON A NEW BASIS
OF MATURITY AND HEALTHY UNDERSTANDING ON BOTH SIDES#
IT IS NOT SO LONG SINCE THERE WAS A GREAT
DEAL OF SILLY AND MISCHIEVOUS TALK IN THIS COUNTRY
ABOUT A STRAINED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AMERICA AND
AUSTRALIA. YOU DON'T HEAR THAT TALK ANY MORE, AND
IT WAS NEVER REALLY TRUE, EXCEPT* IN THE MOST SUPERFICIAL
SENSE. OF COURSE IT WAS POSSIBLE TO PLAY UP
ISOLATED STATEMENTS, BUT THE REALLY ENDURING QUALITIES
IN OUR RELATIONSHIP HAVE ALWAYS EXISTED AND HAVE NEVER
BEEN CHALLENGED.-THAT IS NOT TO SAY THAT OUR
RELATIONSHIP IS THE SAME AS IT ALWAYS WAS, IT IS
NOT;~ BUT THE CHANGES IN TONE, * IN QUALITY, IN EMPHASIS,
HAVE BEEN ALTOGETHER BENEFICIAL AND WERE IN FACT
INEVITABLE. NO ONE HAS ACKNOWLEDGED AND DESCRIBED THIS
NEW RELATIONSHIP ONE OF DEEPER MUTUAL RESPECTJ#
OF MATURITY, OF HEALTHY CANDOUR, OF REAL FRIENDSHIP
BASED ON A FRANK RECOGNITION OF OUR PARTICULAR NATIONAL
INTERESTS WITH GREATER ELOQUENCE THAN MARSHALL GREEN.
No ONE HAS DONE MORE TO BRING-ABOUT THESE CHANGES1
OUR RELATIONSHIP IS VERY MUCH STRONGER AS A RESULT.
IT IS RARE THAT I AM ABLE TO QUOTE THE PRESS IN
SUPPORT OF my GOVERNMENT ESPECIALLY THESE DAYS -BUT
I THINK THE FINANCIAL REVIEW PUT THE SITUATION FAIRLY
IN THESE WORDS ON TUESDAY:
" THE AUSTRALIAN-AMERICAN ALLIANCE HAS
WEATHERED THIS FLUID PERIOD REMARKABLY WELL,
A PERIOD IN WHICH ONE SIDE WAS STRUGGLING TO
ESTABLISH A MORE INDEPENDENT IDENTITY AND THE
OTHER TO MAINTAIN ITS POWER AND PRESTIGE IN A
RAPIDLY CHANGING WORLD. sm
i R GREEN ACKNOWLEDGED THIS AND PLAYED A
VERY EXPERIENCED HAND IN CANBERRA. HE WAS
PROFESSIONAL ENOUGH TO REALISE THAT THE
INTERESTS OF BASICALLY LIKE-MINDED NATIONS
WOULD ULTIMATELY TRANSCEND A CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT,
CLASH OF PERSONALITIES AND MINOR DIFFERENCES
IN POLICY
T ACCEPT THAT JUDGMENT. AMBASSADOR GREEN
IS NOW MOVING TO MORE EXALTED LEVELS, BUT WE SHALL
ALL MISS HIM IN AUSTRALIA. WE SHALL WISH HIM WELL.
HE AND I HAVE HAD THE HONOUR TO BE JOINT
PATRONS OF THE AUSTRALIAN-AMERICAN FESTIVAL TO BE
HELD IN SYDNEY NEXT MARCH AND APRIL AS PART OF THE
BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS. FOLLOWING THE MOTTO OF THE
AMERICAN REVOLUTION BICENTENNIAL ADMINISTRATION
" A PAST TO REMEMBER, A FUTURE TO MOULD" THE
FESTIVAL PROMISES TO BE AN EVENT OF TRULY MEMORABLE
IMPORTANCE, A GREAT DEAL OF PLANNING HAS ALREADY
BEEN DONE, AND MUCH-OF IT WILL BE FAMILIAR TO YOU
SCHOOL PAGEANTS, DRAMA, MUSIC AND BALLET PERFORMANCES,
THE " SISTER CITIES" PROGRAM, I COMMEND ALL THOSE
INVOLVED I* N THESE PLANS, TONIGHT, HOWEVER, I WANT
TO MENTION SOME OF THE SPECIFIC PROPOSALS FOR WHICH THE
AUSTRAL: AN GOVERNMENT IS RESPONSIBLE. o. ,/ 6
FIRST, I HAVE HAD THE HONOUR TO INVITE VICE-PRESIDENT
NELSON-RoCKEFELLER TO VISIT AUSTRALIA FOR THE FESTIVAL.
HE HAS ACCEPTED. I AM HOPEFUL THAT HIS VISIT WILL TAKE
PLACE IN MARCH. SOME '. OF YOU WILL RECALL THAT WE HAD A
VISIT FROM ANOTHER ROCKEFELLER IN MARCH AND APRIL
THIS YEAR THE PRESIDENT OF THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART
IN NEW YORK, BLANCHETTE ROCKEFELLER. MRS JOHN D.
ROCKEFELLER 111, SISTER-IN-LAW OF THE VICE-PRESIDENTS
A GREAT LADY, THE* MOST ELEGANT OF PATRICIANS!
WE THOUGHT IT ONLY PROPER, IN INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S
YEAR, THAT THE FEMALE ROCKEFELLER SHOULD* COME HERE FIRST$
( THE MODERN MASTERS EXHIBITION, INCIDENTALLY, ATTRACTED
382,000 VISITORS. THERE'S NOT DOUBT THAT A ROCKEFELLER
CAN PULL IN THE CROWDS).
MUCH CAREFUL THOUGHT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE
ROLE AUSTRALIA SHOULD PLAY IN CELEBRATING THE
BICENTENNIAL IN THE UNITED STATES HERSELF, THE GOVERNMENT
HAS BEEN ASSISTED IN THIS BY AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF 24
DISTINGUISHED CITIZENS LED BY PROFESSOR MANNING CLARK, A. C.
I NOTICE THAT SOME OF THEM ARE WITH US TONIGHT. ON THEIR
RECOMMENDATION THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED TO ENDOW A
CHAIR OF AUSTRALIAN STUDIES AT HARVARD. PRELIMINARY
TALKS WITH HARVARD HAVE ESTABLISHED THAT THE CHAIR WILL BE
AT RESEARCH LEVEL AND FORM A CENTRE FOR AUSTRALIAN
STUDIES BY OTHER AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES. THERE ARE A
NUMBER OF DETAILS TO BE WORKED OUT. WE SHALL WANT.'
TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF HARVARD'S WISHES IN THIS REGARD. 9 a./ 7
IT IS HOPE THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE
CHAIR BE A FIRST STEP ONLY. WE HOPE IT WILL
FORM TE NUCLEUS OF EXPANDED AND CONTINUING ACADEMIC
STUDIES IN AMERICA OF ALL ASPECTS OF AUSTRALIA AND
OF AUSTRALIAN INTERESTS IN A WIDER REGIONAL CONTEXT,
I COMMEND THIS PROPOSAL TO THE GREAT COMPANIES AND
CORP0RAAT-: NS MANY OF WHOSE REPRESENTATIVES ARE HERE
TONIGHT WHICH OPERATE IN OUR TWO COUNTRIES, SOME
OF THEME I TRUST, WILL SEE IN THE CHAIR A FOCAL
POINT F2R FURTHER RESEARCH ENDOWMENTS IN THEIR OWN
NAMES IN DISCIPLINES OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO THEM.
THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT PLANS TO SPONSOR
A FELLOWSHI? PROGRAM TO FACILITATE EXCHANGE VISITS
BY A NON-ACADEMIC CROSS SECTION OF THE COMMUNITY
FARMERS, BUSINESSMEN, CIVIC LEADERS, TRADE UNIONISTS
BETJEEH AUS-? ALIA AND AMERICA, WE SHALL SUPPORT
AN AMERICAN TOUR BY THE AUSTRALIAN YOUTH ORCHESTRA
AND ART, CRAFTS, AND OTHER EXHIBITIONS. WE SHALL
SET ASIDE FUNDS TO ENABLE AUSTRALIANS TO PARTICIPATE IN
SPECIFIC EENTS ARRANGED BY AMERICAN STATES, CITIES
AND INSTITUTIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE SMITHSONIAN
INSTITUTION THE BIGGEST MUSEUM COMPLEX IN THE
UNITED STATES AND IN THE WORLD HAS INVITED AN
AUSTRALIAN EXHIBIT TO TOUR ITS CIRCUIT OF MUSEUMS.
WE SHAL. L ACCEPT THIS INVITATION, DRAWING FROM MANY
AUSTRAL: AN MUSEUMS MATERIAL RELATED TO AUSTRALIANAMERICAN
LINKS FROM OUR EARLIEST TIMES TO THE PRESENT DAY.
THERE IS ONE OTHER PROPOSAL I HAVE TO
ANNCUNCE TONIGHT. AMERICANS HAVE MADE MANY
CONTR-SUTIONS TO AUSTRALIAN LIFE. NONE IS MORE
ENDURING OR STRIKING THAN THAT OF WALTER BURLEY
GRIFFIN. SINCE GRIFFIN'S DESIGN FOR CANBERRA WAS
SELECTED IN 1912, THE NATIONAL CAPITAL HAS BECOME
A MCNU-ENT TO HIS VISION AND ARCHITECTURAL SKILL
A GARBE-CITY. GRIFFIN MADE GREAT CONTRIBUTIONS TO
ARCHITECUJRE, LANDSCAPE AND TOWN PLANNING IN
OTHER PARTS OF AUSTRALIA. NOVEMBER 1976 WILL SEE THE
CENTENARY OF HIS BIRTH. THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO
HONOUR HIM WITH THE ERECTION OF A MEMORIAL IN CANBERRA.
g-N
THIS WILL ALSO COINCIDE WITH THE BICENTARY CELEBRATIONS.
A COMPETITION WILL BE HELD THIS YEAR TO CHOOSE A DESIGN
FOR THE MEMORIAL, THE MEMORIAL WILL BE SITED ON
THE SUMMIT CF MOUNT AINSLIE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE
NATIONAL CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION WILL BE
GIVING FURTHER DETAILS OF THE. COMPETITION IN A
STATEMENT THIS EVENING. / 9
I THANK PROFESSOR MANNING CLARK AND HIS
COMMIF.= E FOR THE TIME THEY HAVE SPENT AND THE WORK
THEY -A-E DONE IN PREPARING PROGRAMS FOR THE BICENTENARY
FESTIVAL. I THANK AMBASSADOR GREEN; MR ALLEN
MOYES, PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTRALIAN-AMERICAN ASSOCIATION,
AN CF= ICER OF THE ORDER FOR AUSTRALIA FOR
" DISTINGUISHED SERVICE OF A HIGH DEGREE IN THE FIELDS
OF A-E-EMENT AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS";
MR CHARLES BERNARD, PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN
SOCIETY; AND MR BROOKS WILSON, A VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE
AUSTRALIAN-AMERICAN ASSOCIATION AND CHAIRMAN OF THE
AUSTRALIAN-AMERICAN FESTIVAL 1976. I AM HAPPY THAT
THE AUSTRALIIAN' GOVERNMENT WILL BE CONTRIBUTING IN FULL
MEASURE TO AN OCCASION THAT WILL HONOUR THE NOBLEST
IDEALS IN T-E AMERICAN TRADITION AND DEVELOP FURTHER
THE INDISSCLUBLE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THE AMERICAN
AND AUSTRALIAN PEOPLES,