PM Transcripts

PRIME MINISTER PRESS STATEMENT NO. 156
DECEMBER 1973
VISIT TO AUSTRALIA BY THE FEDERAL GERMAN CHANCELLOR
The Prime Minister, Mr Whitlam, announced today that the
Federal German Chancellor, Herr Willy Brandt, had accepted his
invitation to visit Australia. A date for the visit would be
decided next year. I
Mr Whitlam said that a visit to Australia by Herr Brandt
would give the greatest pleasure to the Australian Government
and people. It would bring particular satisfaction to the
large and important German-born community in Australia and to the
many other Australians of German descent whose families have
contributed greatly to Australia's development. All Australians,
Mr Whitlam said, would share in the warmth of the welcome to the
Federal Chancellor.
Mr Whitlam said that the visit by Herr Brandt would be the
first visit to Australia by a leading West European statesman
since the visit of President Saragat of Italy in September 1967.
Mr Whitlam said Herr Brandt's visit would be an opportunity
to show that Europe, of which West Germany was a most important
member, has a positive and constructive role to play in the Asian
and Pacific region. Europe would find that its active interest
in Asia and the Pacific would be reciprocated by the countries
of the area and would be a considerable contribution towards the
peace and development of the region.
CANBERRA. A. C. T.