PM Transcripts

-U1 STA L IA F76/ 139
FOR PRESS 4 July 1976
JAKARTA
I have instructed our Ambassador in'Jakarta to pass a
message to President So. e--harto in which I repeated
to him the great importance which I attach to Australia's
relations with Indonesia and assured him of the respect
I have for him personally and for his leadership of Indonesia.
I took this step because of possible misunderstandings arising out
of press reports, some of them inaccurate, which referred to
my recent talks in Peking.
The Ambassador saw President Soeharto on Saturday morning.
As well as handing over my personal message to the President
he gave some background to the President on the brief
references to Indonesia and South East Asia in my talks
with the Chinese Premier in Peking.
Pre sident Soeharto asked the Ambassador to -convey
to me his warmest regards and his appreciation that the
m isunderstandings resulting from reports in the press on
this matter had now been dispelled.
The President told the Ambassador that Indonesia also attached
great importance to its relations with Australia.
I am looking forward to a full exchange of views with.
President Soeharto when I visit Indonesia at a mutually
convenient time, probably next October.
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