South Africa
Common Market and Free Trade Area
! oomera
Commonwealth defence
South Africa
3lue S3treak
David iheppard
8outh Africa
Apartheid
Riussian Submarines to Indonesia
i,' ew Guinea
Visit to Continent Paris
K,, orean situation
Red China
VJisit to Queen
South *-frica
Summit
-F ThRhE MIISTERWS PRFS AND COMM'TENCE
LOJUX) I; N QAtI.-h -Z12 l v q
T IIITERVT2M,
I. T. V. ~ e~ tion: Do you feel that there is any influence the Cotmnorwalth
Prime hiistero can bxing to bear on the situation ini South Africa?
. Answer: Well.$ I don' t know but I think the tal. ks the Co~ aunwoalth
Prime hinisters will have with each o4; her and the represent'Uativ: e of' the
Prime Ministor of. South Africa car-not fall to do som-e good because they
will increase our knowleodge. They may have an efei-on both sides.
I don't maan by that that I think there ought t o be talks in the fuill
Confurence. % q never have g-one in for that kind of thing in the past
and frankly I hope we won't in fut-ureo because the iiicment you get to thait
you got to the point whero you bave resolutions and votes, and we have
n,-vor had tho~ tu,
Ruest-Jon Do you feel that thure ave any steps * that the Commaonwealth
countriens can take which might have s-orwe tfect on this th-reateoning trade
vwr in Europe between the Cunmon Mar'ket a: id tLae Pree Txdde Area?
Answer: This problem of tha Seiren. and the Oix is muoth too comnplicated
to l. end itself to the half minule flashy genor: alisation and
I'm not goi;. rg to make cne.
41Ll right, we'll 5skip that one,
Qz3qsti Australia has a big G-ak9 in th1e Woomera Rocket Range. What
effect will the abandonment of the Blue Str oak have?
kn-wer: Wel, wre have every reason to believe that there wrill be
a considerable amourit of work for it t o do and for a con-23zvable time to
come, lf in fact it turns c~ ut thai; the appara~ tus could be used for
purposes of space research thare might be no redaoing off ect on operations
of -Woomera at all. It mightA be some increasing resu. 3, But you don't
want to exag,; e'oate our trouble in this matter if there ie tro'uble.
Our contribution to Womera h-i be( en E-u% at:_ ntli but Cveat s
contribution has been a bigao: one, you know, and any losses in-volved in
the change of direction the losses will primarily ihil on thiLs country.
aU Lcstro: Are you happy about Cornmonwea2th defenca as long as we don't
have a long range missile of ou-own?
Answer:* Well. you are now asking me a question again which coulIdn't
possibly be answered in under half an hour, Have we half an hour?
You had better just write me down as being not unhappy.
auestion: Coul. d I put it in another way do you think the Commonwealth
oughat to have a long range missile?
Answer: Now you are asking me a question -that relates almost entirely
to the Govewnment of this Country and I thin~ k I've heard in qr trave. o~
that there is gcxdng to be a debate. I am not in it.
Thank you very much indeed,
2.
B. B. C.
Questicn: Mvr. 1ienzies, you are on record as saying that you
belleve the South Afr-Ican situation is a doulestic one and not one for
discussion by the ' Urnited Nations, but ' how do you feel about its be-Ing
discusoecl at the forx6hclomling Prime k-Ami. ster' s Conferonnc:?
I would hope that it was not discussged. as a set itmi in
a fornial session of the Conrferernce, because if that were to occur there
woul~ d inevitably be somn divisions of opinion and thoe wculd become
mault. 9ro of notorietLy, port-aps w~ tt. ars reso'ui, n~ ~ hv
never had votes in the Prime Miniates' Cofrne W area a wvoilder'
fuJ. body. We have no rules, no votes, plent-ty of discussion, cut of
it all there emorges a comm~ on accepted view about 8cme -; hing or thore
doesn'~ t. and if thore. is no co~ on accepted view on a particaular probl. em
t hen nothing is said pulicly what~ ever. But at the samae time lEin suve
that other Prime Ministers like 4yrse. f are look-ing forviard to
writh the reprenontative of South lfrica in.. d to becovia bettbar nord
as to what goes on, It is ver easy to talk about thoix policy, vc. , y
easy to be rather ill-informed about it. I have novux pvofessed to
und ; tand oth-D~ paople Is policies frightfully well. I have all the
viox-la' trouble in understanding my ow n. .1 want to learn, I want to
understand, and if in a private vray I disagree writh someothing then I am
able to say it in a private wray.
_ Zi: es4-ion: Don't you feel that open discu~ ssion of tho situation at
the Conference might give soire encourag~ montb to the Inoe modera-te elements
amongst the South African Governmnt supporters?
Answer: Nothingr could persuade me this ought to be listed for
discussion in forffl s,. ssion of this Primne I, 1i. iirtersj' Conference. I can
see nothing but harm coruing from it.
Q-uesion: Do you thlink if it wore listod for aiscuasion it could
result in Suth Africa leaving the Coivannv-althi?
Anower: That 1.9 of course a purely specdLative matter but there
are some things whl-ich if they are allowed to haippon in the formal
proceedings of the Prime hinisters' Conforenoe rroy -Iexmphasiso mty
have a damaging effect on the whole s-; ruct ture.
.& eiio: One of the leading Nationa. 42' papers in South Aftri. a
envisages a situation wiherevby Sou~ h Afica could become wh1at thoy call tho
Polecat & t the waKia. Wouild wie necessarily i-nt a PdLeoat ixi the Coimamonwealth
house? Idon't think that is a questVion that I ought to be askedL
to answer' because of course that assumes something about pdLecats, doesn't
it? I1 have no c ament.
_ Qae s t Icn: To change the subject, sir, how do you feel about the
abandonment of the rocket Blue Streak?
An Well., the a-: ime 11inister was good enough to send out to
us the First Sea Lord so that ive might be put in possession of all
technical and military considerations whiich had led them to their conclusions,
We found nothing which we could object to in those conclusions,
and that being so those conclusions ought to be put into effect.
Thank you very muoh, 8sir.
3.
THE PRESS
,. estii, o n: Prime Minister, could you tell us what you think of
David Sheppard's decision not to play against the South Africans?
Answer: I regret it.
Qlestion: Can you re-state for us Australia's attitude to the
South African situation?
Answer: The attitude of the Australian Government was stated by
me on two occasions in the House of Representatives, and what I said
amounts to this, We regard the problem of the racial policies existing
in South Africa as matters of domestic jurisdiction. We regard them as
not being within the jurisdiction of the United Nations by reason of the
Domestic Jurisdiction Clause. We think also, apart altogether from the
Charter of the United Nations, that it is a very sound rule of foreii
policy not to seek to interfere in the domestic political problems of
another country, That has been our attitude and that remains our
attitude. As I have said, that doesn't at all exclude the possibility
of private or semi-private discussions between the Prime Minister of
South Africa or his representative and myself and hr. Nash and Mr. Macmillan
and whoever else wants to have discussions. I want to have them,
I am very anxious to know more than I know now. I seem to be in a bit
of a minority. Most people seem to think they knov all about what goes
on in South Africa. Not a dark shadow of doubt in their minds at all.
But I don't belong to that happy band. I would like to have an oppartunity
of discussing their policies but, as you know, not as a matter
of formality. People ought to remember that there have been previous
occasions when suggestions were made that a particular topic that involved
a Cormonwealth country or countries ought -o be listed. Kashmir was
one but it wasn't listed. That was a problem which was producing
tension between two great members of the Commonwealth. It was never
listc:. l It was discussed privately. And if a matter of that kind,
with all its possibilities and involving as it did flatly different
views on the part of two identified nations, if that were not to be listed,
how does it come about that we list for discussion a matter which affects
South Africans in South Africa but whiuh after all we think is their
business. Question: I was just going to ask you, Ir, henzies, if you can say
that you personally dislike Apartheid?
Answer: I have made it clear in Parliament, and I am sorry that
I have to make it clear here, when I speak publicly I speak as Prime
Minister and on behalf of the C-overnment and therefore I don't permit
myself the luxury of private views.
Question: There was a statement made today, hr, Menzies, that Russia
has supplied submarines to Indonesia with trained crews. Have you
had any confirmation that this is true, and have you had any concern
over it?
Answar: I have had no canfirmation of that at all.
But it is
Oh well, if you had a brother, would he like cheese? That is too
hypothetical far me.
f
Question: ir. Menzies, a question on New Guinea. The Dutch are
now talking in terms of offering self-determination to New Guinea in
something like ten years. Does this speeding up of New Guinea's
political development surprise you?
Answer: I have no official confirmation of the proposition you
have just referred to. I know that there has been an idea floating
around. We think it is impossible to state a timetable on these
matters. We think that the test ill be i. n the long run what stage
of development have the people reached. That is the thing that determin
the question of self-determination on their part. I don't think
one ought to assume that the Dutch have really vitten down a specific
timetable. I have read about it in the Press but that doesn't pr-ove
much. It was announced in the House...
Well, I wasn't there, I didn't hear it. Anyhow Mir. Hasluck is coming
ovur here and no doubt he will have smne talks with them.
Question: Have you any plans for going to The Hague on this visit?
Answer: No,
Question: What visits will you be making on the Continent, ir. enzios?
Answer: I doubt whether I will make any. It looks as if Paris
might be a bit crowded after we finish our Conference here. No, I have
no plans for going to the Continent. I have just come from Geneva.
Cuestion: Miay I take it from that, Mx. henzies, that you will not be
going to Paris as certain suggestions have been made that you would go to
Paris? Answer: Really' Well I didn't know about them. I haven't noticed
any of the big shots making them.
Question: ir. Menzies, hr. } acmillan has said that the winds of change
are blowing through South Africa. How do you see the future in South
Africa? Answer: I make no comment on that. I wvill be much better informed
on that matter when I have had an opportunity of talks with the representative
of South Africa at this Conference.
Question: hr. Menzies, what do you feel about the Korean situation?
inswer: I suppose it might be permitted for me to say that I am
not surprised full stop. Whore's mny adviser on External Affairs? I think
that's permissible, don't you, hiick?
Question: iKr. 1henzies, what is your policy with regard to recognising
Red China?
Answer: We don't recognise Red China.
Do you intend to in the near future?
® 1 Question:
Answr: I know of no prospect of that policy being changed. It is
elementary, of course. I can say that now but somebody else may have
different views in future. But we hve nothing before us to suggest
any change in the present policy,
Qu9stion: Sir, is a visit to the Queen before the Wedding on the 6th
listed in your programme?
Answer: I don't know. I know that I am down to have an audience with
her some day. I think it is quite early in the Conference, isn't it?
But whether it is before or after the Wedding does that nmtter very much?
Is that very important? What point are you going to make of it? It
will have all the time and novelty to me whoAn you make it.
Question: Returning to Africa, sir do you see the South . fx-ican
situation causing a Commonwealth split? With the coloured nations being
separated from the white?
Answer: Look, I am not going to say any more on that subject because
un t!. hing that anybcdy sayson that at this time is not very helpful to the
Conmmnwealth. Lets get together, and let us have this great oppcrtunity
for meeting each other, directly and personally.
Question: Have you anything to say, sir, on the prospects of a Summit
success?
Answer: No, nothing to say on that.
Question: Mr. Nash was quoted in Moscow ycsterday as saying that he was
sure that 1Mr, KCrschev wanted peaceful co-existence and disarmament.
Ansvwer: Well, if he turns out to be right, this Conference has a wonderful
opportuiity of being productive.
Question: Are you able to discuss any subjects which you yourself will
raise at the Prime Ministers' Conference?
Answe: No, I am not very talkative about these things before they
happen. Well, we are trying hard.
I know.
Quest ion" How long are you here for?
Answe: Three or four weeks, I think. I have to go and do a lecture
at Cambridge.
Question: On what?
Answer: On the changing Commonwealth.
Question: Will you fit in some cricket then?
Answer: No. I would like to see them once but I don't know whether
T will be able.