PRBIME MINISTER
FOR MEDIA SUNDAY, MAY 4 1980
ELECTORATE TALK
The world is currently faced with a most dangerous position.
It has come about-because in December, the Soviet Union sent,
thousands of its troops into Afghanistan where-it-overturned
the government of a non-aligned and independent country.
It imposed military control, against the will of the people,
over a sovereign state.
The Soviet Union has acte, . and is continuing to act, brutally.
It has thrust the most powerful ] and armyin the world into an
S area of . great strategic sensitivity. The Soviet move into
Afghanistan has the most profound implications for the.
. stability of global order.
It-. has had a destabilising effect on'the . whole south west
Asian region. The Soviet Union is now well placed to intimidate
-either. Pakistan-or Iran if a suitable opportunity presents itself,
or can be manufactured, and to threaten the oil producing states
of the Arabian-Gulf.
It has called into question the whole basis of east-west
relations, and raised the prospect of confrontation between
the super powers. Recently, as you know, the situation in Iran
has worsened. All the norms of accepted intefnation-al behaviour
have beeh put aside.
The seizure of the American hostages and their detention for
almost six months is unforgivable and a gross breach of
international'law. The government of Iran can no longer pretend that a group of
so-called students was responsible for this seizure. The
responsibility belongs to the government. It appears, however,
that one of the very real problems in Iran is the. absence of
one recognised power centre; there are several power centres,
often competing with each other.
Since the American rescue attempt, the difficulties for the
United States in handlingthe hostage issue must have become
more serious. / 2
-2
We are all conscious of the risk that subsequent events could lead
to an even more dangerous situation. 1n the ' short to mnedium termi,
we cannot discount the possibility of Soviet influence or control
over Middle. East oil supplies.*
As'a counterforce to the insecuriLy and tensions building up
in the world, a stronger western alliance is emerging an
alliance which has developed a more unified approach and a
common strategy in -seeking the achievements of shared goals
and objectives.
This visible and stronger alliance, particularly between
Europe and North America, enormously strengthens the United States
in its leadership role in containing the Soviet Union.
It will greatly help in seeking to achieve the release of
the hostages.
The Australian Government is in strong support of the
United States in its handling of the hostage issue in-Iran.
President Carter's dec-ision to attempt the rescue of the
hostages was a. conurageous one and it is a tragedy that the
attempt was not successful. We have expressed our sympathy
and support to President Carter and the United States people
in their efforts to secure the release of the hostages and to
contain the Soviet Union.
The enormous responsibility which rests on the United States
for leading the western alliance in maintaining the security of
the free world imposes heavy burdens on President Carter and on
his cabinet.
The President's is an awesome and onerous job and a very lonely
one. He deserves and needs goodwill and support from America's
allies. This he will get from the Australian Government.
So too, will his new Secretary of State, Sena~ tor Ed Muskie,
whom I+ know and respect as a resolute and fair man.
Australia is in no special position to point the way towards
solutions to the problems besetting the world. We are, however,
prepared to take actions in support of our conviztions and of'.
our allies, for it is in concerted action and apiproach that we
can best arrive at a settled world order.
We have taken a series of trade and diplomatic actions in relation
to Iran, in concert with the U. S. and her friends. The thrust
of the position we have taken is similar to that taken by
European nations, who are standing four square with the United
states in these critical days. Australia will continue to support
the United States in its desire to free the hostages, and will
continue to take appropriate measures to help secure that
objective. We shall continue those measures which will make sure that
Australia's attitude towards the Soviet Union and its invasion
of Afghanistan are registered with absolute clarity. ./ 3
3
Four decades ago the world embarked on the terrible conflict
which Winston Churchill rightly called, " the unnecessary war".
It was unnecessary because comparatively modest steps would
have been sufficient to deter it had they been taken early
enough. In the name of peace and business-as-usual, those steps were
not taken.
Those who advocated them, including Churchill himself, were
denounced as war mongers. It would be tragic-indeed it would
be disastrous for the human race if that mistake were ever
made again.
The case for a firm, measured and sustained response to the
present crisis the case for giving effective support to the
United States is essential in order to avoid another unnecessary
war.