PRIME MINISTER'S
REMARKS TO PRESS ON DEPARTURE FOR LONDON
MASCOT AIRPORT, SYDNEY JANUARY 1969
PRIME MINISTER: Well, gentlemen, I don't think I have any statements
to make to you. As you know, I am going over to a Commonwealth
Prime Ministers' Conference. The last one was held, I think, two
years ago. No doubt, you have got some questions you would like to
ask me, and if I can, I will try and answer them. So fire ahead.
Q. Will you be putting forward any proposals for a Singapore-based
mobile defence force in either formal or informal discussions with
the other Commonwealth leaders?
PM: This is not on the agenda at all.
Q. What are your views on such a proposal?
PM: Well they are not views that would be appropriate to a
Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference, and they are not
views on which, at this stage, I am going to express an opinion.
Let us get on to the Conference.
Q I would like to ask you a question concerning something which
will take place after you have left the publication of this book
" The Power Struggle" by Alan Reid. It concerns the voting at the
party meeting which elected you as Party Lead~ er and therefore
Prime Minister. The figures published at the time and since
widely circulated indicated that you had a very impressive margin
over Mr Hasluck of 51-30 votes. Alan Reid suggests that the margin
was in fact much closer 43 to you and 38 to Mr Hasluck. Which
set of figures is nearer the truth?
PM: I haven't the slightest idea. I wasn't a scrutineer. I would
imagine that only the scrutineers would know.
Q Mr Reid's sources are usually fairly reliable, and assuming
that his figures are anywhere near the truth, Mr Alan Barnes,
commenting on the book suggested that the nearness of the figures
has in fact influenced the style of your Prime Ministership in the
past twelve months, that you have been seeking popular support to
make up for, possibly, divided party support. What is your comment?
PM: I wouldn't be prepared to assume that Mr Reid's or anybody
es's assessments of things that are only known to the scrutineers
were correct. I don't know.
Q Sir, can you tell us what is the reaction of the Malaysian
Government to the decision to move Anzac troops to Singapore? 2
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PM: Well, you saw the statement made by the Tunku who quite
happily accepted the proposals that we put to himi
Q Was there any time, Sir, when they opposed the idea?
PM: I don't know of any time when they opposed the idea. I think
they might have liked to have teen able to keep Terendak running
as it could be run as a viable base, but I wouldn't say they opposed
the idea. You have seen the statement made by the Tunku on this
matter.
PM: And after the move to Singapore, Sir, will the Malaysians be
able to call on these troops at any time they may need them.
Q These tro',-ps are stationed in the area and as you know,
Singapore and Malaya are acting together in defence matters and
our forces are there to assist both these countries in their joint
defence efforts.
Q Mr Gorton, what matters do you hope to see introduced into the
Conference?
PM: What matters do I hope to see introduced into the conference....
well, I find it a li ttle difficult question to answer. I would answer
it in this way: I would hope no one matter dominates the conference
and that it is able to deal with the quite large number of subjects that
are put down on the agenda, and doesn't spend all its time on just one
subject. I think that is about all I could say on that matter.
Q Sir, how big an issue do you expect Rhodesia to be?
PM: This will depend entirely on what the people at the conference
wish to mak' e of it. I know that the British Government doesn't wish
it to be a subject which dominates the whole of the meeting, and we
wouldn't wish it to be either. There are a number of other subjects
which could be of considerable value to discuss.
Mr Holt came back from the last Prime Ministers' Conference
somewhat dubious about the value of the conferences continuing
in the same way as on that occasion. In what . ram e of mind are
you going to this conference hopeful or are you going over in a
somewhat........
PM; I am going over in the frame of mind of someone who has never
been to one before and who will be most interested to see how it
operates and what subjects are discussed and what consensuses
or consensi of opinion are arrived at on those subjects. . j3
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Q. Sir, will you while you are there be pushing anything on the
Nigerian situation? Will Australia be taking an active role in
bringing this forward and . pressing the Nigerian Government
into somne sort of action?
PM: We won't be taking an active role or an initiative in this.
It is a matter which, as I understand it, the British Government,
and indeed we ourselves, would very much like to see brought to
a conclusion so that the killing ceased. But I believe and I can
only say that I believe that the British Government thinks that
the organisation of African unity, the African States which have been
concerning themselves in this matter, are perhaps the best tool
if I can use this word with which to bring about this desired result,
and we would, I think, agree with the British Government on their
approach to this matter. But we would certainly like to see the
killing cease but not be taking our own initiative.
Q: Sir, if I could ask one more question on the conference. Does
Australia favour any increase in the role of the Secretariat to the
Conference?
PM: An increase in the role of the Secretariat? In what particular
way do you mean?
Q: In perhaps strengthening ties between Commonwealth countries?
PM: Well, I think the Sccretariat is occupied now as as Secretariat
in conveying views and messages between the various Commonwealth
countries. We would not wish to see it have any power to do anything
other than that.
Mr Gorton, do you think the remarks in Dame Zara Holt's
book will have any effect on the attitudes of the Africans towards you?
PM: L can't imagine why thcy should. These are remark'As which are
published by a private citizen at second or third hand and I find
it difficult to think that the y would influence the attitude of anybody
towards me.
Q: Mr Gorton, just to return briefly to the question of ' The Power
Struggle", if I may, do you agree that the role played by Lord Casey
in this matter has been a more active one than has be-en the role of
the Governor-General in the past? Do you think that is a change
that has come to stay?
PM: Well I really came here to answer questions about the Commonwealth
Prime Ministers' Conference and not to make comments on
the actions of any Governor-General.
If
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Q: The dinner you are having with the British Prime
Minister, Sir, is that likely to include any Defence
proposals along the lines of Malaysia and Singapore?
PM: Well, I will be having a dinner with the British Prime
Minister, and I have no doubt that quite a number of
subjects could be brought up for discussion. I will be
having a private dinner with Mr Trudeau. I have no doubt
that any number of subjects will be brought up for discussion.
But there is no agenda for either dinner.
Thank you, gentlemen.