PM Transcripts

Transcripts from the Prime Ministers of Australia

Whitlam, Gough

Period of Service: 05/12/1972 - 11/11/1975
Release Date:
30/10/1973
Release Type:
Media Release
Transcript ID:
3054
Document:
00003054.pdf 9 Page(s)
Released by:
  • Whitlam, Edward Gough
MR WHITLAM'S KEY NOTE ADRESS TO THE SECOND AUSTRALIA-JAPAN MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE MEETING, TOKYO, 29 OCTOBER, 1973

mA NQ DATE / t
M/ 154 30 October 1973
M WHITLAM'S KEY NOTE ADDRESS TO THE SECOND
AUSTRALIA-JAPAN MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE METING,
TOKYO, 29 OCTOBER, 1973
* Below is the text of the key note address given in
Tokyo by the Australian Prime Minister and Minister for
Foreign Affairs, Mr E. G. Whitlam, at the Second Australia-
Japan Ministerial Committee Meeting on 29 October 1973.
" At this, the second meeting of the Ministerial
Committee, I have the honour to lead the largest and
most senior delegation of Australian Ministers ever to
leave Australian shores to represent our country in
another country
There could be no clearer proof of the importance
which the Australian Government attaches to our
relations with Japan. There could be no clearer
proof of the breadth, the many-sidedness of those
relations. There could be no clearer proof of the
significance we attach to this Committee and the
seriousness with which we approach our work upon
it. This Committee first met last year when a
different Government was responsible for Australian
affairs. Our support for the establishment of this

I~ 2E~ d GI-C O. fLI 1 u 1Kr o
na~ Ties chang.. nothi'z -in the j,. riin-_ ir ñ o
t 11 c 1 cses t ru o s O: cIL, r( 2I. 7; amostecn..; 2
cW s. ti-m h cur ra': -~ cth matto; ic~
* p 4 can.,.
nc -1,1 do. b -l -al
atc ht iaa ;~ pr the -t;
Lhsechngej an ca j-r
fimo otC
S L' i. r

the United States and The People's Republic of China.-
This chan. ze has had important conocquzz-nces folrJ j.
and Australia.
Just before last year's meet-g, Japan normaieal
her relations with the Pepp e~ & Spiulni.
Tokyro at the time Preslident Nixon anounccd i~ n
July 1971 his inten-tiJ. on of visiting leking.
aclaiowledged at that time that Japan faced special
difficulties not facc-d by Austral-La., I* said ~ t7.7
-that time., Aere and in Canberra, that;) the task
presented a high chal. enge t'. o jaanl-, statcsrv~ n-shi
It is a tribute to t; equalityl c: J:. a1es1h
that -the task was achhived in little-nocr e tna
Since China's ent ry int -Jae Unites-Nations, Since
President Nixon. s visit to Peking. since the detente,
betwe:) n the T irl2ted S-a-tes aria ch Sovie't Un-con, sic
the end of foreisn in2terv; entior, in I'& h-Caviae
tried tLo emroi. islsc ne; opr ts whi..~ te
great developae nt s ef e 2 to our r0e i1c0-1 ht also.*
t1-ried to cmphasisO hc. 7 easy it woldol be for aios'"
like Japan and Au'sr~ at e thos-onolri-. es
slip and how tragic -Cor oiir region Cucht a losz, YouldQ:
be if we allowed. it tr. occ-ur..
Both Japan and Australia have takniñ 2 advant-3ge of
the great-cr freedom Crmel h greater xiiity
of policy that detente cmtz
it is gratifying ifor n -to thM Cc~ r 7.
similarity in approach u,. d directions feuwr~ e
Go vernments and our -t o covuntr iea, Av. stra" 11a re cogni :, sea
China in December las1. , immdiate-Ly a1ter my Gove. rnmentcame
into poweir and vc, ik Japarj. ar, w akir. 203d
progress in develop-3M.-a s Mca: K-bae,'..
relationship. ohcucu-r-eh~ C~ ZC. the,
Demo cratio. RoriibJic. oJ* V112, t N~ a D7ho u oweg
th". e need -fox-aew ; xoLar~. re-c-Lon,
Jio~ gh bof -f.; rce-: m.:!. LX1.. cJ.

genln' a-v 1; ake, Ithey must-~ mcaiY b-
1 nd growth r ir: dee-p thou~ ghñ
o~ c.~ conu~ a~ on .7i-' h ri' 1b1-U cis.
i~ s : Q~ r. bsuv. har h, Sggei. tion -h -~ a
onx her of our t-wo cmuntrJ o r our two G~~ tel
has -, 1unged rec'klessly or-thoughIIt!~~~ nrto new c3s
f ., king the changes of -003. icies wre ha~ te : in the t
' vea. Jo h t. r, nr. c { Auta~., bo{ te Ta. zka
Govrm~ tand the ' Ji~~ G\ cr~ jt a-v blass-dt
o~ If oren;' o Far JtVrorm being recedess or nrdc.
A irc c e -o c! b eenr. I
~ Of~ i~). chad vC nxoi 3~ atd. 3U ~ d
I ot n bL t I : 7Y
it-rsts coin_*. zce f o c'! sI-fJs~~' z~ tis
orco> urEL~ da ~ havt arK7
higch deogree of1 nt e r tieond en cc. To remai n pre. r-perov,
in'rv~ ticaJ. c~ rcny., As g-reat exporters, mei
of ~~ horc tio i a ccLo-
r r~ ce c Le'tL nr : 1-1-ed G. Ie c Th
c c 6s As the tw-moait deveic. ped, indi-t-rial is
of i; h. Ila r, ' Pa ciJfic, G Ini -xe a cciomn ii. rz n
wcy~~ I' -hoici j re~ io s r~ o rv3~ C) I00 r
haw: v:, ccrffn l.-! tcrest in hto~ ~ gci1nelh
not ' tlhco: Ie lan f; rca v-i
be 4-CL
coop ~ m. ziir~ Y~ J~ j O~' C Ai~ V> vi c.

, ace -the Dcac-CY lC ire io n, -e pae o" th
-corld. The relations between our tw o-om'iES
-uasod n Thre oog.-iItioncfhi rJrLh
CDMviUt-! Y Go irntcrcstz..
The! gcorntJ2ulng, tapsh f or loth our '-overrm. cntrelate
our specifi. c national initerest to the: zc t-roader,
common interests-anda to oromote ourrecie
t c wh lo th-e ~ stirm-pc~ o~ n(
*. resce common int ercot s
T'l plco, f-OSU
C Tacan cact nosrn
ci oiiwiasise ' Fth. at ow..-J. iie are no-14 -i2lov C; tqsinst
07. r Othor atto' -but for iastralia.
We r. a c ocna s e thatC c on c Xiup s in ti
t o ' Ln4,-e:.' ruptl' the ojL nrinierals frora vaust: . alia
jnterr[,: Yo" bifttoSUPPC~ by a-rbitx'ary inmport
r s trav{; 7? Oh. sc -c.-ne T: kc-eY ) enden~ fC(-the
twoec~ gOfl~ 3 ~ nI w~ lc : r-i-ue-to malke 1' eas3cya', le
quan~~ t:;,-s ) f mar~ t erials available -3t prices ,-hj. c: h
Ilt. o1' te: -Ge our ~ XCes lbeinjr C, t
uc) CJtat pan a~ s c s to wtralia. 3y -2t in
Jap ,41 h
N.

1Qvrz~ a ~ ilibeouLineci ouring t* he meeting, but I
mnight say Iiere -that czr intention i. c not tUo prn
ir'% rctmerit from ove: seas, We welcome itL; wTe want it
b a od on terims wi mean that the control of our
induotries and our. resources 7. ests in Austrealicn h-nd0-,
Japan as much as any country in the worldJ apprecLat-es
the need for control o-ver it_ 6 own industries.
Th-is is-. all we a-, e sceeking, no more, no 7less. A-gain.
olua -policies a-ce no'U anr~ ianyone: they are for Autr.,.!_ LL.'
let Lic say emphatical. y thiat Australia will not disc--
ica-airi t Jx
strxaJlia -Viros wti Oapan a very deep fnterest
SenSUcing thla, ; hc great indust. ria-lised nations of tII!
have an, ,. stead to t'Vhe DL-';-oarez
th~' iol~: om. 2: nc-t". tic believe that trie
natonslik Aast'-ar
,_ nt4, J1cd to ha-vs cou and. steady inarke't their
6X. ua i a' ~ in 3 x: m. bI~ ce ' here 5
I ~ needo rt'. g ir. ' eriat icnaj. rl2. c. e on t'
_ r Lt 1o0r fL I~-K GJ g o t f e ' v4Cor ' i Is s i
. LJfa:' r as i is ~~ Hnes-~ ( 1u, e ar: i ct c~ i etic
Of tlLe rcsoroc. oducersCSi-i ng ~ lhe resou~ c
A .; I~ s~ If. a c incer-ned. ther e isno
D* cOur 0io-111i, Lo sit selfishly on our
r esouc es at thne expense of other coui-tries.
> 1 : ron Ta a ~ ever,; time .; hern Aus-: cwauc-. 3.2
ar~ ~' at shre in ( h9co nt-c_ oerid -as
oftheIr own resourceS, they are also'becoming aware
of ' G* he : i__ or~.: onal JimpU ca Uions of thir-oc-sion
oi KA1 esuce.
' de '.)' Lieve we ni-ost have approprviate!, national oice
at~ chre~ ' 2t ~' oior~ mi~ ntand -xrCloitation of'ores. rc:
Ji'.: ve thc!. T. i 11C Cr'nal and. tenioalfesos
o ; c7rdr -esoxrces ;. are jafle-xltr2cahbvliny.
4-ioc. 4 n vring t-
A -br v' J Cr' ir-. La

7-
I j WO wae n o enlwarge opmorfunites fo: C.
alans-ustr ' o -hare in the owniershiJ-p
amc! developDmentñ of Australian mine
soe~ urces,
wi! r: s ll enccirage 5Lcro processing -if
rL: lcr0. s i-l A4 strala; n nally9
g; u. to encurn tat oU-r
ccmm: nc a fa-2 pri. ce in tl! h
world is becoming increasingly concerned about i>
access to mineral and enrergy resources.
We rank amongst the world's five rain prccers
of bauxite, iron ore, tin' nio'Kelv s12ycL, le. d., zinc,
manganese and. we have major deposits cf uranium. In
many cases cur importanc in the ': crJ2 as a proCucer
is increasing. Bte-ntua" ally, therefore, Australia will become a,"
significant element. in the.. resource strategies of
importng c'otries, particu3ariy Japan.
We would be Foolish indeed. and other covut2 e's
wc-, ld us'a. as fooLiS'h JL f fnlito U takc . l
account, o-2 ; nes' facts.
Wo ar-2-going to Cevelo, theref'orul> a resources
policy. That aoes not nean that we are goi. ng t-play
off one buyLr~ againt aniomer or one seller a,-ainst
ano-thi? Th7t nct the 6iiztraiiar n -i-ay0 \' Io r
neni~ L low cae r1x, policy on! f~ ve
1) e must, . hat Auw, 3ta. aiias
wn : needs f. ncJ indus-tri.. l
requirca. n-is are mett
2) e shall -4a Le 1-ll account of the
k; O-C ro~ 3n j: Lt~~ e? . r( rights of3~
. k: ori. inaa Ilh '" lc ivciSe tradition-.]
c* ! c. s i~ J.. e Pt of tlr~, so m,-iuch
y~ r I II LO'
1 Y
I~ .\ r . o

-8-
1-hin th e fra-., e!. i -) rk o th o se f ive rncioes, J
cva;-re ly apon i that Australia wil-l -remain a steady-
3, up;,-,-ier o~ f rtsuo, rces and ptable place for Ivetnt
Y-iay say ' thlat tZhcre is a broader reaso. n over andi
abcve our own national coneerns which maKes mneetru. y
c.-Ini~ ous of Japan's neefl. for reassurance on' ' Uhese
mat t.-er s There is n! cody more con! scio-,:-s -than 1; More
a-,] Prcia-; Ve of twhi-t a former Mo linisctel
of Japan told me was Japans " N~ ew Courc-e". h-ovo
c-mpiasi sed by helicK-in the ilertyo2 onf 4
new course~ on ap. LpropriatUe occasions. in -Canbcri2Th n?
T okrvc-. n W-ash slgtc n, n P ek: inrr
belie-; e tha-t ja ) n is cittmnd ; h ae ns
e the fi,' Ist Great~ utr l power to " h ' eak tune xus
, btTfneconoi: c ~ te h and miiitary -t-, renf1,-h and
j'Tha . fair and ade-quat' 1 6ee to t-hIe raw aci. c
and y-sesmre hr UnT~ rc
m-ili~ ta-y th1re-ats-or fo3rooo.
2Li gise. a tthig f:.' Japan af~& g reat -thing
as v rLl as -jaran oseta Ueshls cu:
succe.: ds. f ar as Autr,-: L is z1na. n. ecI2 r
in that course'and -11o makie wh'jatev-er contribution7.
Australia can to iLs succeos~. So I believe it is in
Au. ' S n1ereSt-, Jfl ElCSUl 2
Ja~. about the continuity and certainty ofth
resr~ ilrces she nieeds, fromn us. It is i. n this spirit
t-hat'-my colleague:: -d 1 etc-reJ whclehiearted~ j-, r r p,, 7
-iave 3-aid -mxa. h t-h~ eb Uctl 1aI'acte'i. icx2 0.
. LUt! a) 11--L o nn e

formaliz ed by a. . reraat oYQf friclliip czlc
and navigation between our .1couzitries. ' For a va , riety
of reasons, previous Australian Gove rMmnts* ho Kef-rred
consideration of' this" mat1tcr.
My Government has decided that i-t is nowciq and
t imeSly that our ti-o countries should enter into ss: oe
aprpriate broad arr~ mgemenat. W~ e cvisage that uc
treaty a treaty of eccnomic co-oper ation ard"~ friendship
shoiuld set out the ' broad framework o2 lain. between
our two countries, not to regulate those relatdirns but
rather to define aad6 sybolise the in,:_ rea-_ irng
W. co-oporat-ive spirit-4. in ,; hich I belilv the s: rc-:. tions
will be conducted
Obviously do no IV opse t; 1-at u. h a t-rety 2-hou-l
be concluded durirr o-rsn ii; to " oewol
hope however, a' thoo -;. ll1 be an agreement::
principle to proceed alr~ these lines.. and thce>. ef o 2 -e
mnany hav rJapan an-Au-: ra'ili havoe
en ere1 into suCh. a t': y
blieve that a. trceaty ., 1ich czt. ; lis~
K. i eccunc _ co-rtL~
rmere fcumal v. y a ay, ral , ic' i:
* th. e real commuity of _ LtQx-ests, ti eca I intt i rñ 1ce
which exists between o', 2r twvo nat-ions a-d + our tw0,; c peoplesa
friorndship, an terAn e: Qdonce, an 2cniy i. interee-ts
which I mn -very-oare be adVOarC(.: uI c-.. berations
of-thi-' historic imsetiz-gor

3054