PRESS OFFICE TRANSCRIPT SATURDAY, 9 FEBRUARY, 1980
INTERVIEW WITH DON BAKER, CBS
HONOLULU question Prime Minister, you had two meetings with the President, and
obviously discussed the perceived threat that is common to both
our countries, Did you arrive at any conclusions?
Prime Minister
I think Australia and the United States have a very common view
and understanding of the dangers and also of the actions that need
to be taken. The President's State of the Union message, where he
stated very clearly his intentions, the-United States intentions,
is a very important document and one that is essential to the
well-being and security of the United States, United States
allies and indeed, of independent nations around the world.
I hope that that is a document, or a statement, that will be built
upon. It gives us a starting point. The United States has
announced increased defence budgets. Australia will be adding to
its own-defences. We will be co-operating even more closely
with the United States in sur~ veillance and patrolling in the
Indian Ocean, and undertaking a number of other activities all of
which are designed, on Australia's part, to do what Australia can
to help demonstrate a collective determination to do what is
necessary. I hope that'as many countries as possible will strongly
support the President of the United States. In terms of a perception
of the threat, in terms of an understanding of what needs to be
* done, I believe the United States and Australia are really on
common lines. -I say this, not from the point of view of 14 million
people that go along, and say to the United States " we support,
right or wrong", because we have to make our own independent
judgements of what is in our interests and what is in a sense, the
free world interest. -But we very strongly believe that the
United States is right, that the-course that the President has taken
is right, and that we therefore need to do everything we can within
the limits of our capacities of 14 million people to support
that position.
Question Do you think the people of Australia, and-more specifically, the
law makers will support you?
Prime minister
In Australia? I have not the slightest doubt about the law makers
in Australia. I have not the slightest doubt about the will and
determination of t: he overwhelming majority of the Australian people. / 2
CBS, HONOLULU 2-
Prime Minister ( continued)
One of the things, if I may say it, that was stimulating in
Washington, was the extent to which senior Congressional leaders,
senior Senators, who have been around the Capitol for a long
while, were saying the Congress is behind the President, the
people of the United S'cates are behind the President, perhaps in
a way that has not been seen since 1945. We all know the
divisions and difficulties that came after Vietnam. Therefore,
as an ally of the United States, it was a very good thing indeed
to see that sense of purpose, that sense of determination, not just
from the Administration, not just from the President, but to be*
told that it was something that carried through right across the
United States.'
Question Prime Minister, one final question. Yesterday the President
recommended the most controversial part of, I'guess, the defence
package the draft, or at least the registration for the draft
including men and women. Did he discuss this with you?
Prime Minister
No. What the United States does in enhancing its own defence
effort is obviously a matter for itself. We did'not discuss,
really, what we were intendingto do. I did advise the President
that additional proposals for defence would be examined by my
Government very shortly after my return to Australia. We had
indicated that we were prepared to support the United States with
increased patrolling and surveillance of the Indian Ocean and
that our respective defence people would need to work out how the
total effort can be best integrated together. We indicated
a number of other things that we, from our own perspectives, had
decided, as contributing to the joint effort. I would see what
the President has done in that particular decision as another of
the courageous acts. The President and the Administration has
shown much courage in dealing with the present crisis and in
dealing with the Iranian crisis not only courage, but a much
needed restraint, having in min -d the lives of the hostages and
the overwhelming imperative to have those hostages released and
returned, without harm, to the United States. So, what the United
States needs to do, I have no doubt the President will pursue with
vigour and determination. 000---