Jj4AUS-. 1lA! I( A j4 PRESS STATEMENT NO. 132
24 SEPTEMBER 1973
FRENCH NUCLEAR TESTS
The Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign
Affairs said today that the Australian Government had
formally and officially informed the Registrar of the
International Court of the nuclear tests conducted by
France at Mvururoa Atoll in July and August and had
pointed out that, in the view of the Australian
Government, this constituted a breach of the interim
measures order made by the Court on 22 June.
Mr Whitlam. said that although he still hoped
that the French Government would make a formal
announcement that its test series had ended, he
understood that this was not the intention of the
French Government. Hie was, however, prepared to
assume that the lifting of restrictions as from
September indicated that the current series of
tests had in fact concluded..
The Prime Minister said that he accordingly hoped
that this would lead to the lifting of the constraints
that had been imposed by Australian trade unions on
commercial and economic relations between Australia
and France. Mr Whitlam emphasised that the Australian Government's
firm position was one of continuing opposition to the
conducting of atmospheric nuclear testing. The
Australian Government had all along made this plain to
the French Government and would continue to do so.
CANBERRA. A. C. T.
Whitlam, Gough
Period of Service: 05/12/1972 - 11/11/1975
Find more information on Whitlam, Gough on the:
Release Date:
24/09/1973
Release Type:
Media Release
Transcript ID:
3021
Document:
00003021.pdf
1 Page(s)
Released by:
- Whitlam, Edward Gough
FRENCH NUCLEAR TESTS
3021