PM Transcripts

FOR PRESS: PM No. 123/ 1970
PM'S MESSAGE TO UN', SECRETARY-GENERAL
The Prime Minister, Mr. John Gorton, tonight sent
the following message to the Secretary-General of the United Nations
" The Australian Government fully understands the concern
of the Government of Israel at the circumstances in which death
sentences were recently passed on two Soviet citizens of the Jewish
Race. It is alleged that an attempt was to be made to hi-jack an
aeroplane and no-one would wish to condone such an offence.
But it is disquieting that the trial itself was held in
camera and was not open to observers so that world opinion
could judge of its fairness and of the facts of the case.
it is also disquieting to note that if people of the Jewish
Race were permitted freely to emigrate from the Soviet, in
accordance with the principles of the United Nations, tihis
incident would never have occurred.
I note from press reports that the International Commission
of jurists has expressed concern over the severity of the sentences
and the lack of official -i-iformation regarding the trial.
There is a clear need for all the facts of the case-to be
established for the world to see and we hope that this will be
recognised by the authorities of the Soviet Union and that such
severe punishment of what appearf! to have been an attempt
at escape will not proceed.
CANBERRA 27 December 1970