J IL11
F-Uu ' J 3 6 avid~ vat a
FOR MEDIA SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4 1981
ELECTORATE TALK
During their deliberation over the Retreat, the Heads of
Government have decided to issue a declaration of their
belief that it is imperative to reinvigorate the dialogue
between developing and developed countries as a matter of
urgency, and of their determination to contribute to that
process. They have agreed on a declaration. It has one over-riding
purpose: to express as clearly and forcefully as possible,
the concern and commi~ tment of the leaders on these issues.
Everything w.. hich might detract from the clarity of this
message has been deliberately omitted.
The declarat.-ion does not deal with specifics or with practica.
measures. That is not its purpose. These, the issues of
trade, food, energy or finance, will be dealt with at length
-in the comr. unique at t1-he end of the meeting. But because of
the intrinsic importance and urgency7 of the issues, and
because of the timing of the Melbourne conference in relation
to the North-South Sumumit in M2eXico, the Heads of Government
think it essential to express now, and in unequivocal terms,
the importance they attach to the mobilisation of the will
to make progress.
It is possibl~ e to over-ernphasise the-importance of will and.
commitment. But it is also possible indeed very easy to
underestimate them. They are essential ingredients ' for success.
It is just as much a moral and intellectual failure to surrender
to current realities in these economic and social spheres, as it
is to try to appease aggressors and tyrants in the political
sphere.
We have no right to accept gross poverty and inequality as
inevitable, until we have exhausted every possibility to
eliminate them, and done so with vision and the utmost
determination, and without inhibitionk. That is the message of
the declaration. It comes from the Heads of Government of
41. countries, representing a quarter of the world's population.
It is a message to all the other governments of the world,
including especially the non-Commonwealth governments who will
be attending the Mexico Summit..
2
We shall be doing all we can individually and collectively
to ensure that the message registers, and we hope it will
serve as an example and encouragement to other countries.
It is also a message to the peoples of the world, rich and
poor: to the rich, that their own self-interest requires
action; to the poor, that the Commonwealth cares for their
plight and is determined to muster its weight to improve,
their lot.
The language of this declaration is not the language of
compromise or official caution. It is a powerful coherent
statement in language intended to appeal to the imagination
will and humanity of leaders and peoples. I commend it to
your attention. oOo--