0. LH22933 KG1
TOR 0750 21.12.74
. LH22933 1719 20.12.74 UNC
* 0.
I CANBERRA/ 1490
P ROME/ 272
P. P BONN/ 194 THE HAGUE/ 190 ATHENS/ 269
' P PARIS/ 348 MOSCOW/ 234 ISLAMABAD/ 54 oNN S
IR MALTA/ 5 KUALA LUMPUR / 56 BELGRADE/ 184
? R JAKARTA/ 64
FM. LONDON
U N C L A S S I FI ED
TRANSCRIPT PM'S NEWS CONFERENCE 20TH DECEMBER 1974.
HIGH COMMISSIONER: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE PRIME
MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA. ANY QUESTION?
BOB HAUPT ( AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW): DID YOU RECEIVE ANY'
FIRM UNDERTAKINGS FROM THE EUROPEANS ABOUT THE PURCHASE OF
AUSTRALIAN URANIUM AND CAN YOU CONFIRM FIGURES WHICH HAVE APPEARED
IN THE AUSTRALIAN PRESS ABOUT THE EUROPEAN DEMAND FOR AUSTRALIAN
URANIUM?
PM: I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO SEE THE AUSTRALIAN PAPERS FOR THE
LAST COUPLE OF DAYS. FIGURES WERE GIVEN TO US BY THE COMMISSION
CONCERNING THE PROJECTED DEMAND FOR URANIUM IN VARIOUS FORMS FOR
SEVERAL YEARS AHEAD. WE WERE ASKED TO KEEP THE FIGURES
CONFIDENTIAL. Q: PRIME MINISTER COULD YOU POSSIBLY SAY WHETHER YOU DISCUSSED
WITH MR WILSON THE RIGHTS ' OF THE STATES OF AUSTRALIA TO APPEAL
TO THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE OF THE PRIVY COUNCIL?
PM: THE GENERAL QUESTION OF APPEALS FROM STATE COURTS IN
AUSTRALIA TO THE PRIVY COUNCIL IS A MATTER OF CONCERN OF COURSE
TO THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT BUT I DO NOT THINK I HAVE ANY MORE
TO SAY ABOUT IT IN ADDITION TO WHAT I SAID YESTERDAY.
MALCOLM STEWART ( MACQUARIE RADIO NETWORK): I GATHER YOU HAVE JUST
HAD LUNCH WITH THE QUEEN. DO YOU ENVISAGE THAT THE STATUS OF THE
QUEEN IN AUSTRALIA WILL CHANGE FURTHER DURING THE COURSE OF YOUR
ADMINISTRATION.
URPM: ( DID NOT REP o/
\, IM i ' T I( i' I A. 1k S
INWARD CABL EGRAM 2 0. LH22933
Q: IAN RICHARDSON ( RADIO 3DB) YESTERDAY YOU SEEMED TO BE MAKING
SOME ATTEMPT TO IMPROVE RELATIONS BETWEEN BRITAIN AND AUSTRALIA
AS YCU WERE AWARE THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF IRRITATION FROM
THE BRITISH SIDE AT WHAT THEY SAW WAS YOUR ANTI-BRITISH ATTITUDE.
YOU WENT TO GREAT LENGTHS TO PUT THIS RIGHT. ARE YOU TRYING
TO FOLLOW THIS UP, ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE ANY OTHER STEPS
TO IMPROVE RELATIONS BETWEEN BRITAIN AND AUSTRALIA?
PM: THE RELATIONS BETWEEN BRITAIN AND AUSTRALIA HAVE ALWAYS
BEEN GOOD AND CONTINUE TO BE GOOD. THERE IS NOTHING THAT MY
GOVERNMENT HAS DONE WHICH WOULD LEND ANY BASIS WHATEVER TO
ANY SUGGESTIONS THAT RELATIONS BETWEEN BRITAIN AND AUSTRALIA WERE
IN ANY WAY DIMINISHED, . NONE WHATEVER.
Q: YES THAT IS AS YOU SEE IT BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE OVER HERE
ARE SAYING THAT YOU WERE THE FIRST ANTI-POM AUSTRALIAN
PRIME MINISTER.
PM: WELL LET'S BE A BIT PRECISE. LET'S SPECIFY WHAT I HAVE
DONE WHICH COULD BE SAID TO BE IN ANY WAY ANTI-POM. DON'T
TALK IN GENERALITIES, LET'S BE PRECISE. LET'S MEET ANY
PRECISE OBJECTION OR ALLEGATION.
Q: I AM NOT QUESTIONING WHETHER YOU ARE RIGHT OR WRONG BUT
THE FACT IS A LOT OF PEOPLE DO THINK YOU ARE ANTI BRITISH.
PM: WELL, THEY ARE WRONG. LET'S BE PRECISE THERE IS NO
BASIS WHATEVER FOR THINKING THAT I AM ANTI-POM, TO USE YOUR
WORDS. Q: JOHN DICKIE ( DAILY MAIL). SINCE YOUR ARRIVAL HERE YOU.
HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR A STRENGTHENING OF THE COMMONWEALTH.
DO YOU SEE A PARTICULAR ROLE FOR THE COMMONWEALTH IN RESOLVING
THE RHODESIAN PROBLEM AND DO YOU SEE AN AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT
BEING PREPARED TO TAKE PART IN A CRASH EDUCATION PROGRAMME TO HELP
THE AFRICANS AS PART OF A SETTLEMENT.
PM: THE QUESTION OF RHODESIA WAS DISCUSSED AT THE LAST MEETING
OF THE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT IN OTTAWA LAST AUGUST
AND AUSTRALIA THERE MADE IT PLAIN THAT IT WOULD PARTICIPATE VERY
HAPPILY IN ANY COMMONWEALTH INITIATIVES ABOUT RHODESIA., AND NOTHING
HAS BEEN DONE IN THE COMMONWEALTH CONTEXT SINCE THEN.
Q: DID YOU GET ANY ASSURANCE FROM MR WILSON ABOUT DIEGO GARCIA,
AND COULD YOU TELL US WHAT VIEWS WERE EXCHANGED ON THE
SUBJECT. 3/ I'
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3 O. LH22933 W
PM: MR WILSON AND I DISCUSSED FAIRLY BRIEFLY THE GENERAL
QUESTION OF BRITAIN'S INTEREST IN THE INDIAN OCEAN AND
SOUTH-EAST ASIA. MR WILSON ASSURED ME AS I BELIEVE HE HAD
ASSURED THE HOUSE OF COMMONS THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT
VERY MUCH SUPPORTS THE ATTITUDE OF THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT
IN CALLING ON THE TWO SUPER POWERS THE UNITED STATES AND
THE SOVIET UNION TO AVOID ANY ESCALATION OF THEIR FORCES.
ANY CONFRONTATION BETWEEN THEM IN THE INDIAN OCEAN.
I HAVE OF COURSE READ THIS IN ACCOUNTS OF WHAT MR. WILSON
HAD SAID IN THE COMMONS. I WAS NATURALLY HAPPY TO
HAVE IT RAISED BY HIM IN A STRONG CORDIAL TERMS FACE TO
FACE THIS MORNING.
DO YOU STILL MAINTAIN OUTRIGHT OPPOSITION TO AN
AMERICAN BASE ON DIEGO GARCIA.
PM: I DON'T BELIEVE THERE IS ANY COUNTRY AROUND THE INDIAN
OCEAN WHICH WISHES TO HAVE AN INCREASE IN THE
INSTALLATIONS ON DIEGO GARCIA. I HAVE SAID THAT BEFORE I
HAVE NO REASON TO CHANGE THE VIEW.
INSTALLATIONS OF THE AMERICANS IN DIEGO GARCIA
CONSIDERING SAY THE HISTORY OF THE LAST WAR SUCH INSTALLATIONS
NEARER AUSTRALIA WERE QUITE USEFUL.
PM: THE SITUATION HAS CHANGED GREATLY SINCE THE LAST WAR.
Q: THERE HAS BEEN A CURB IN MIGRATION TO AUSTRALIA IN THE LAST
TWO OR THREE MONTHS. CAN YOU SEE THIS CURB BEING LIFTED
WITH A GREATER NUMBER OF INCREASE IN MIGRANTS IN THE COMING
YEAR 1975.
PM: NO I DON'T BELIEVE THERE IS LIKELY TO BE AN INCREASE IN
THE NUMBER OF MIGRANTS TO AUSTRALIA IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS.
THERE ARE TWO REASONS. THE FIRST IS AT A TIME OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN
AUSTRALIA IT DOESN'T HELP TO HAVE A GREAT NUMBER OF MIGRANTS
COMING TO AUSTRALIA. THE SECOND REASON IS THAT THE PRESSURE
OF MIGRANTS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES HAS DIMINISHED. THE
REASONS WHICH PERSUADED A GREAT NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN EARLIER
YEARS TO COME TO AUSTRALIA NO LONGER PREVAILS WITH SUCH FORCE.
THE MAIN NUMBER OF MIGRANTS COMING TO AUSTRALIA NOW ARE THOSE
SPONSORED BY CLOSE RELATIVES. WE BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE THAT COME
TO AUSTRALIA ON THE NOMINATION OF THEIR RELATIVES ARE MOST
LIKELY TO BE HAPPY IN AUSTRALIA. THERE HAS BEEN A VERY GREAT
INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF MIGRANTS TO AUSTRALIA WHO. HAVE BECOME
NATURALISEDo THERE IS9 I THINK, TWICE AS MANY PEOPLE BEING
NATURALISED THIS YEAR AS TWO YEARS AGO IN AUSTRALIA. N
4/
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INWARD CABLEGRAM 4 O. LH22933
Q: YOU WERE SAYING IN BRUSSELS ON THE COMMON MARKET THAT YOU WANTED
TO SEE THE END OF SHILLY SHALLYING ON THE QUESTION OF WHETHER WE STAY
IN THE MARKET. SINCE YOUR TALKS WITH MR WILSON, DO YOU FORM
THE IMPRESSION THAT THE PRIME MINISTER WANTS BRITAIN TO STAY
IN THE MARKET.
PM: THE CONVERSATIONS I HAD WITH MR WILSON OF COURSE WERE
PRIVATE AND IT WOULD BE QUITE WRONG FOR ME TO GIVE ANY
IMPRESSION OF WHAT WAS SAID BY EITHER OF US IN THOSE TALKS.
IT'S NOT FOR ME REALLY TO EXPRESS A VIEW AS TO WHAT BRITAIN
SHOULD DO ABOUT MEMBERSHIP OF THE EEC. IT IS RATHER FOR ME
TO EXPRESS THE VIEW OF THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT. PREVIOUS
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENTS HAD UNDOUBTEDLY GIVEN THE IMPRESSION
THAT THEY DIDN'T WANT BR'ITAIN TO JOIN THE COMMUNITY. THEY
CRITICISED THE EFFORTS OF THE CONSERVATIVE AND LABOUR
GOVERNMENTS IN BRITAIN TO JOIN THE COMMUNITY. THEY FREQUENTLY
APPEARED INTENT ON FRUSTRATING BRITAIN'S ATTEMPTS TO JOIN THE
COMMUNITY. THE PRESENT AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT HAS DONE NOTHING TO
FRUSTRATE THESE ATTEMPTS. IN OUR VIEW THERE IS NO ADVANTAGE
WHATEVER TO AUSTRALIA IN BRITAIN LEAVING THE COMMUNITY.
Q: ( RUSSELL SCHNEIDER, THE AUSTRALIAN): FOLLOWING YOUR DISCUSSIONS
WITH HER MAJESTY AND MR WILSON, HAVE YOU ANY INTENTION OF
INTRODUCING A PURELY AUSTRALIAN FORM OF HONOURS.
PM: THIS IS A MATTER WE HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT FOR SOME
TIME. ALL I CAN SAY IS THE GENERAL IDEA IS TO DO WHAT HAS BEEN
DONE IN CANADA. I BELIEVE IT WOULD HELP PEOPLE IN BRITAIN TO
UNDERSTAND THAT THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT IS ABOUT IN
CONSTITUTIONAL TERMS IN GENERAL IF YOU WERE TO EQUATE OUR
ASPIRATIONS WITH THE CANADIAN PRACTICE.
Q: ( BILL NORMAN, SYDNEY MORNING HERALD): THERE IS A POSSIBILITY
THAT GMH MAY SACK ANOTHER 5000 WORKERS. DID YOU GET ANY IDEAS FROM iZ
MR WILSON WHEN YOU TALKED TO MR WILSON WHICH MIGHT BE APPLIED IN
AUSTRAL IA.
PM: WE DIDN'T DISCUSS THE MOTOR INDUSTRY. MY GENERAL IMPRESSION
IS THE MOTOR INDUSTRY IS IN TROUBLE THROUGHOUT THE WESTERN
WORLD. THE MONSTROUS AND INTOLERABLE SITUATION IN AUSTRALIA IS
THAT GENERAL MOTORS SUBSIDIARY THERE HAS ATTEMPTED TO STAND
OVER THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT. IT HAS AVOIDED USING THE MACHINERY
AVAILABLE TO ANY AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY WHICH BELIEVES IT NEEDS
ASSISTANCE FROM THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT. IT HAS PRESENTED
DEMANDS THAT THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT SHOULD ELIMINATE
COMPETITION FOR ITS PRODUCTS AND SHOULD SUBSIDISE THOSE PRODUCTS.
I NEVER THOUGHT EVEN GENERAL MOTORS WOULD HAVE THE GALL TO
BE SO OVERT ABOUT IT. THESE UGLY AMERICAN COMPANIES.
I) 1 I'A I \ I INI I O I: II N AFFAIRS
N WARD CABLEGRAM O. LH22933
Q:... APPLICABLE TO AUSTRALIA.
PM: I DIDN'I UNDERSTAND YOU TO ASK A QUESTION IN SUCH GENERAL
TERMS. YOU MENfION GENERAL MOTORS AND I ANSWERED IN THAT CONTEXT.
OF COURSE, MY COLLEAGUE AND OUR ADVISORS, AND I, SOUGHT AND GAINED
A NUMBER OF IMPRESSIONS ON THE ECONOMIC SITUATION DURING OUR TALKS
IN LONDON AND IN BRUSSELS. OF COURSE WE DID.
Q: ON THE GENERAL MOTORS THING, PRIME MINISTER. AFTER THE
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED ITS MOTOR INDUSTRY POLICY.
GENERAL MOTORS CAME OUT AND VIRTUALLY SUPPORTED THE GOVERNMENT
AND THAT POLICY.
PM: INDEED, THEY TOOK FULL PAGE ADVERTISEMENTS IN YOUR OWN VALUED
JOURNALS. Q: COULD YOU TELL US WHAT DISCUSSIONS THEY HAD WITH THE
GOVERNMENT IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET THE CHANGE TO THE MOTOR INDUSTRY
POLICY BEFORE THEY ANNOUNCED THAT WORKERS WOULD BE SACKED.
PM: NONE WHATEVERo THEY DELIVERED AN ULTIMATUM.
Q: ( NOT HEARD)
PM: BY THEIR SILENCE, YES. I ACCEPTED WHAT THEY SAID
OPENLY. I DON'T ACCEPT THAT ANY COMPANY HOWEVER LARGE EVEN
IF IT IS AN AMERICAN COMPANY IS ENTITLED TO STAND OVER
THE GOVERNMENT OF A COUNTRY WHERE IT HAS OPERATED SO
PROFITABLY FOR 20 YEARS AND MORE. GENERAL MOTORS' CONDUCT
IN THIS CASE WAS ABOMINABLE. IT IS NOT THE FAULT OF THE
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT IF GENERAL MOTORS IN AUSTRALIA CAN'T
PRODUCE AN ACCEPTABLE VEHICLE. IT CAN'T FACE COMPETITION,
IF IT SEEKS ILLEGAL ASSISTANCE, PROTECTION AND UNJUSTIFIED
SUBSIDIES.
Q: ( JOHN JACKSON, DAILY MIRROR). MAY I JUST CHANGE THE
SUBJECT. COULD I ASK WHETHER THE DIFFICULT PROBLEM OF CRICKET
WAS BROUGHT UP AT NO. 10 OR BUCKINGHAM PALACE.
DID HER MAJESTY OR MR WILSON OFFER TO OPEN THE INNINGS AT
MELBOURNE. PM: I CAN'T DESCRIBE ACTUALLY THE CONVERSATIONS THAT HER MAJESTY
HAD, ANY MORE THAN I CAN THE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE P. M. HOWEVER, AT
THE RISK OF INDISCRETION I WOULD SAY THAT MRo WILSON CONSTANTLY
REFERRED TO MATTERS IN CRICKETING TERMS YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, LAST
NIGHT, THIS MORNING, AND I HAVE NO DOUBT TONIGHT AND TOMORROW NIGHT.
AS I SAID YESTERDAY, WE ARE PREPARED TO FLY THE MCC FIRST ELEVEN
WHEN WE GO BACK IF THAT'S DESIRED. 6/ N,
a N"
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INWARD CABLEGRAM 6 0. LH22933
Q: DID YOU DISCUSS WITH MR. WILSON YOUR PROPOSAL ON THE INDIAN
OCEAN. AND IF SO WHAT HAS BEEN THE REACTION OF THE BRITISH
GOVERNMENJT. YOU SAID THAT THERE MUST BE SOME UNDERSTANDING
BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE GREAT POWERS ABOUT ARMS LIMITATION IN THE
INDIAN OCEAN. DID YOU DISCUSS THIS MATTER WITH MR. WILSON. WHAT
HAS BEEN HIS REACTION.
PM: I HAVE ALREADY STATED ALL I THINK I SHOULD SAY ABOUT WHAT
MR. WILSON HAD SAID ABOUT THE INDIAN OCEAN. I OBVIOUSLY DON'T MIND
IF YOU ASK ME MY ATTITUDE TOWARD IT, BUT REALLY I CAN'T GO INTO
DETAILS ABOUT WHAT MR. WILSON AND I HAVE SAID IN OUR CONFIDENTIAL
TALKS. MR. WILSON HAS STATED SOME THINGS PUBLICLY. HE REPEATED.
THEM TO ME AND I AM HAPP. Y TO STATE THEM HERE.
Q: DOES THE FRENCH NUCLEAR TESTING IN THE PACIFIC STILL WORRY THE
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT. AND IF THEY EVER DECIDED TO RESUME IT WOULD
YOU EXPECT A MORE SYMPATHETIC, RATHER MORE SYMPATHY, FROM A BRITISH
LABOUR GOVERNMENT THAN YOU GOT FROM A PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION.-
PM: A COMPLETELY SPECULATIVE QUESTION. I WON'T ANSWER IT,
Q: WHAT IS YOUR GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE ON SALES OF SUGAR.
PM: WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO SELL SUGAR OR ANY OF OUR OTHER PRIMARY
PRODUCTS, OR MINERAL PRODUCTS OVERSEAS. WE HAVE IN MANY
CASES SUPPLIES SURPLUS TO OUR REQUIREMENTS. WE HAVEN'T GOT SUPPLIES
OF SUGAR SURPLUS TO OUR OWN REQUIREMENTS, OR OUR OWN COMMITMENTS THIS
YEAR. THE CROP IS FULLY COMMITTED. WE ARE HAPPY IN RESPECT
OF SUGAR, OTHER PRIMARY OR MINERAL PRODUCTS, TO INCREASE OUR
PRODUCTION TO MEET DEMANDS OR SALES FROM OVERSEAS PURCHASERS
FROM OVERSEAS.* WE WISH TO HAVE THESE ARRANGEMENTS MADE FOR -A TERM
OF YEARS. IN RESPECT OF SUGAR WE HAVE ENTERED INTO SEVERAL
AGREEMENTS FOR FIVE YEAR TERMS. THERE IS SOME SUGGESTION IN THE
NEWSPAPERS THAT WE HAVE JUST ENTERED INTO SUCH AN AGREEMENT WITH
JAPAN. WE HAVE ALREADY DONE SO WITH OTHER COUNTRIES. THE ONLY
COUNTRY WITH WHICH WE HAVE. ENTERED INTO A SHORTER AGREEMENT IS THE
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, AND THAT IS FOR THREE YEARS. QUITE
OBVIOUSLY WE WANT TO ENTER INTO COMMITMENTS TO SELL OUR PRODUCTS
OVER A TERM OF YEARS BECAUSE OTHERWISE IT DOESN'T SUIT US IT
DOESN'T PAY US TO INCREASE OUR INVESTMENTS IN PRODUCING SURPLUSES
TO OUR REQUIREMENTS IF WE CAN'T RECOVER THOSE INVESTMENTS. WE
CLEARLY ARE EXPECTING ANY SALES OF SUGAR OR SUCH PRIMARY
PRODUCTS IN WESTERN EUROPE TO BE UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE EEC*
WE ARE PROBABLY THE MOST EFFICIENT PRODUCERS OF SUGAR IN THE
WORLD. WE EXPORT MORE THAN ANY COUNTRY OTHER THAN CU5A. YOU
MIGHT NOT REALISE IN BRITAIN THAT AUSTRALIA IS THE SECOND LARGEST
TROPICAL COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. BRAZIL IS THE ONLY COUNTRY IN THE
WORLD WHICH HAS A LARGER LAND SPACE IN THE TROPICS. 0.. 7/ I
11 A\ RTI\ I N'I 1: 1 OR 1 A\, I T I ISR
INWARD CABLEGRAM 7 O. LH22933
Q: WHAT IS THE STATE OF PLAY ON YOUR PRESENT NEGOTIATIONS ON SALES
OF SUGAR TO THE COMMUNITY.
PM: THERE AREN'T ANY.
Q: WITH THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, THEN, THIS QUESTION OF SUGAR
SUPPLIES WAS IT RAISED BY EITHER SIDE.
PM: IT HAS BEEN RAISED IN GENERAL TERMS WITH SOME OF OUR ADVISERS
BOTH HERE AND IN BRUSSELS, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THERE ARE ANY
PRECISE PROPOSALS. THE HEAD OF THE AUSTRALIAN DEPARTMENT OF OVERSEAS
TRADE IS WITH ME. VERY OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THE
OPPORTUNITIES TO SELL SUGAR AND OTHER PRODUCTS WHILE WE HAVE
BEEN IN BRUSSELS AND LONDON.
Q: ( HIGHFIELD9 ABC) HAVE YOU HAD DISCUSSIONS ON THE CONTINUING FULL
DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATION OF THE STATE'S AGENTS-GEN4ERAL IN LONDON.
PM: NONE WHATEVER. IT WAS NEVER PROPOSED TO. I NOTICED THAT EVEN
THE TIMES ITSELF SUGGESTED IN THEIR EDITORIAL YESTERDAY THAT MR.
WILSON AND I MIGHT BE DISCUSSING THE POSITION OF THE AGENTS-GENERAL.
OF THE AUSTRALIAN STATES. WE HAVE NEVER DISCUSSED IT, WE HAVE NEVER
CORRESPONDED ABOUT IT. THIS WAS SUGGESTED IN AUSTRALIA ABOUT EIGHT
DAYS AGO. I ISSUED A DENIAL. I AM SURPRISED THAT THE TIMES ITSELF
SHOULD FALL INTO THIS ERROR.
Q: THERE HAS BEEN WORD THAT YOU RAISED CERTAIN CONSTITUTIONAL
MATTERS NOW YOU HAVE BEEN ASKED ABOUT THIS IN A ROUND-ABOUT WAY
ALREADY BUT PERHAPS YOU COULD TELL US SOMETHING OF WHAT THESE
MATTERS ARE, . TO AVOID THE TIMES ITSELF, OR OTHER' PEOPLE FROM GETTING
IT WRONG.
PM: YOU ASK A QUESTION WHAT I THINK ABOUT IT. I D-ID SAY SOMETHING
AT THE MANSION HOUSE AT THE LUNCH YESTERDAY. SO I AM QUITE HAPPY
TO MAKE PRONOUNCEMENTS ON THIS SUBJECT. BUT ASK ME MY VIEWS. DON'T
ASK ME WHAT I HAVE SAID IN CONFIDENTIAL DISCUSSIONS WITH MY
COUNTERPART OR MY MONARCH.
Q: INDISTINCT.
PM: I WAS ASKED IF I THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE ANY CHANGE. AND I SAID
NO.
Q: DO YOU THINK THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WILL LEGISLATE TO ABOLISH
APPEALS TO THE PRIVY COUNCIL FROM STATE SUPREME COURTS.
PM: I WON'T SPEAK ON BE-HALF* OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT. 8/
I! PAR IMT I1(, N I\-AIRS
INWARD CABLEGRAM 8 O. LH22933
Q: CAN I ASK YOU WHAT YOUR OWN VIEWS ARE THEN, ABOUT
CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES THAT ARE NECESSARY, WITH RELATION TO THE
POSITION OF THE QUEEN, THE TITLE ROYAL.
PM: THE ANSWER TO THE FIRST ONE WAS NONE.
Q: TO THE USE OF THE TITLE ROYAL TO VARIOUS AUSTRALIAN BODIES
LIKE THE RAAF AND SO ON.
PM: I HAVE NO VIEW ON IT AT ALL. WHY DO YOU ASK THIS.
Q: IT'S BEEN REPORTED THAT POSSIBLY CHANGES ARE ON THE WAY.
PM: WELL THERE ARE NOTL
Q. AND YOU ARE NOT CONTEMPLATING ANY.
PM: NO, IT HAS NEVER BEEN SUGGESTED. WHY DO YOU.. I PRESUME YOU
ARE ASKING THIS QUESTION ON THE BASIS OF SOME STORY SOMEWHERE.
I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY SUCH STORY. IT'S THE FIRST TIME THE SUGGESTION
HAS EVER BEEN MADE TO ME. WE HAVE A ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY AND A
ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE. NOBODY HAS SUGGESTED CHANGING THE TITLE.
Q: MAY I SAY THIS STEMS FROM A CABLE WHICH HAS COME FROM MELBOURNE
FROM A BRIGADIER EASON, AND A BRIGADIER SIR WILLIAM HALL, WHICH
READS, ACCORDING TO OUR CORRESPONDENT IN MELBOURNE: " YOUR MAJESTY
THE FOLLOWING CABLEGRAMS HAVE BEEN SENT TO YOUR PRIME MINISTER,
MR WILSON: WE WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT ANY CHANGES IN THE
COMMONWEALTH CONSTITUTION, IN OUR RELATIONS WITH THE MONARCH, QUEEN
ELIZABETH II, SHOULD BE MADE IN AUSTRALIA BY AUSTRALIANS AND THE
GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM REFRAIN FROM INTERFERENCE. MR.
WHITLAM HAS NEVER SPOKEN FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF AUSTRALIANS ON
THIS MATTER". AND IT WAS THEN MENTIONED ABOUT THE ROYAL BEING TAKEN
AWAY FROM ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE.
PM: THIS IS SHEAR SPECULATION. THESE OLD BRIGADIERS NEVER DIE.
NO, REALLY IT'S THE'FIRST SUGGESTION OF THIS KIND THAT I HAVE EVER
HEARD. Q: ( PATRICK KEATLEY, THE GUARDIAN) I WONDER IF I COULD ASK A
SUPPLEMENTARY TO WHAT YOU RAISED AT THE MANSION HOUSE ON THIS
CONSTITUTIONAL POINT WHERE YOU REFERRED TO THE FACT THAT IT SHOULD
BE POSSIBLE TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS I AM PARAPHRASING TO THE
AUSTRALIAN CONSTITUTION WITHIN AUSTRALIA. I HOPE I AM PUTTING THAT
CORRECTLY. I WONDERED IF YOU COULD FILL THAT OUT A BIT AND EXPLAIN
TO US WHAT THE STEPS WOULD BE, OR WHAT THE SCOPE IS THAT YOU COULD
ACHIEVE WITHOUT HAVING TO REFER TO BRITAIN. 9/ s \ vS N'
N
I) I~~ PDA RTV'IL'NI ) 1 F() IOR I(; N A,\ IFAIRS
INWARD CABLEGRAM 9 O. LH22933
I THINK THERE WERE TWO PARTICULAR MATTERS I MENTIONED AT THE
IANSION HOUSE YESTERDAY. ONE WAS THE FACT THAT THE GOVERNORS OF
fHE AUSTRALIAN STATES RECEIVE COMMISSION NOT FROM THE QUEEN OF
AUSTRALIA, BUT FROM THE QUEEN OF THE U. K. THE COMMISSIONS ARE
, OUNTERSIGNED NOT BY ANY AUSTRALIAN MINISTER, BUT BY THE BRITISH.
, INISTER FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH RELATIONS. I ALSO MENTIONED
: HAT APPEALS COULD COME FROM THE AUSTRALIAN STATE COURTS IN RESPECT
FO STATE LAWS DIRECTLY TO THE BRITISH PRIVY COUNCIL. NOW IN
? ESPECT TO THOSE TWO MATTERS I EXPRESSED THE VIEW THAT IT WOULD
3E MORE APPROPRIATE FOR THE GOVERNORS OF THE AUSTRALIAN STATES TO
3E COMMISSIONED BY THE QUEEN OF AUSTRALIA. I ALSO EXPRESSED THE
JIEW THAT APPEALS FROM ALL AUSTRALIAN COURTS SHOULD END WITH THE
UIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA. I WOULD EMPHASIZE THAT ANY LEGAL DISPUTES
3ETWEEN, SAY THE FEDERAL AND THE STATE GOVERNMENTS OF AUSTRALIA,
ENDS WITH THE HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA. ALSO ANY DISPUTES BETWEEN
' AUSTRALIAN CITIZENS CONCERNING THE OPERATION OF AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL
,-AWS END. WITH THE HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA. THERE IS, HOWEVER,
rHIS SINGLE ANOMOLY. THAT APPEALS FROM STATE COURTS UNDER STATE
-AW. S CAN GO TO THE BRITISH PRIVY COUNCIL. IT SEEMS IN THESE DAYS
U. ITE ANOMOLOUS AND ONE WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT WOULD ALWAYS HAVE
3EEN OBJECTIONABLE FOR LITIGATION TO TAKE PLACE BETWEEN CITIZENS
) F ANY COUNTRY BEFORE THE COURTS OF ANOTHER COUNTRY, SITTING IN
\ NOTHER COUNTRY, AND COMPOSED OF JUDGES APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNMENT
' F,:.. THAT-OTHER COUNTRY. IT IS NO PART, SURELY, OF THE ENGLISH: LAW
N ENGLAND, OR IN ANY ENGLISH. SETTLEMENT, SUCH AS AUSTRALIA, THAT
HERE SHOULD BE LITIGATION IN ANOTHER COUNTRY EVEN IF IT IS THE
! OTHER COUNTRY. IT IS HERE, AGAIN SURELY, THE SITUATION SHOULD BE
, S IN CANADA.
ON THAT POINT, AS INDEED YOU MENTIONED CANADA. AND AS YOU KNOW
-HE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT HAD THE DILEMMA OF WHETHER OR NOT TO HAVE
' HE BNA ACT REVISED IN LONDON. WOULD YOU SAY THEN THE PARALLEL
HEN OBTAINS THAT AUSTRALIA DOES NOT NEED TO HAVE HER ORIGINAL ACT
F INDEPENDENCE OF THE WESTMINISTER PARLIAMENT
MENDED FOR AUSTRALIAN PURPOSES.
M: OH, THE BRITISH NORTH AMERICA ACT IS MORE ARCHAIC THAN THE! i
' OMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA CONSTITUTIONAL ACT. IT IS, AS YOU KNOW,
4 YEARS OLDER. THE AUSTRALIAN CONSTITUTIONAL WOULD BE A MORE
: ONTEMPORARY DOCUMENT IF IT HAD BEEN PASSED AFTER THE PARLIAMENT ACT
; ERE, INSTEAD OF, YOU KNOW, IF IT HAD BEEN PASSED UNDER GEORGE V,.
NSTEAD OF UNDER VICTORIA. BUT THE AUSTRALIAN CONSTITUTION CAN
E CHANGED WITHIN AUSTRALIA. THE CANADIAN CONSTITUTION REQUIRES
MENDMENT BY THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT. SO IN THAT RESPECT AUSTRALIA
S MORE FORTUNATELY SITUATED THAN CANADA. THERE HAS BEEN SOME
TTEMPT, LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR, TO BYPASS THE AUSTRALIAN
ONSTITUTION OF 1900 BY RELYING ON A BRITISH ACT OF 18533. I01
IDI. I. ARklN II., I 1 lO I \ IN" IAIIS
INWARD CABLEGRAM O. LH22933
Q: THE OPPOSITION HAS SAID THAT YOUR GOVERNMENT IS THE WORST IN
AUSTRALIA'S HISTORY ( PARTLY INAUDIBLE)
PM: HE IS AN EXPERT IN BAD GOVERNMENTS.
ENDS A/ PRIME MINISTER
FOREIGN MINISTER
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
MIN AND DEPT DEFENCE
JIO MIN . AND DEPT LABOR AND IMMIGRATION ( C)
MIN AND DEPT OVERSEAS TRADE
MIN AND DEPT MINERALS AND ENERGY
TREASURER AND TREASURY
PM'S PRESS OFFICE
PM'S PRIVATE OFFICE
AIS ( C)
PM AND C
MR B. JOHNS ( PM AND C)
MR MENADUE
ADAA ( C)
MIN AND DEPT AGRICULTURE MISS BOWTELL ( PM'S PRESS
OFFICE) ADVISED 21/ 0830
I I
I
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