Speech by the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany,
Mr Helmut Schmidt, at a dinner in honour of the Prime Minister of
Australia in Bonn on 17 January 1975
Three years ago I was a guest of your country
and I am therefore delighted to be able today to
reciprocate your hospitality in our little capital.
On that occasion in Australia I had talks with
you as the Leader of your Party. You were still in
opposition. We have had a number of talks in
the last decade, some in Bonn. Today it is gratifying
to renew and deepen our personal contacts,
this time in your capacity as Prime Minister
of Australia.
Your visit to some degree is overshadowed by
the catastrophe recently inflicted upon the
people and the town of Port Darwin. Allow me
once again to express my deep sympathy, Sir. Our two countries are separated by oceans and
continents, yet they are closely and firmly
linked by a network of relations and common
basic political concepts: internally a democratic
order based on the rule of law and a federal
structure, externally the political and economic
potential or our countries is aimed at international
division of labour and aimed at cooperation.
Under your leadership, Prime Minister,
Australia is making intensive efforts to help
resolve the world's political problems confronting
us. You set an example of the attitude that is
needed to secure humanity and justice in our
time by using our common sense and by appreciating
reality.
Mr Whitlam with Mr Scheel, the President of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Your visit to our country comes at a time of
change. The old international economic order
has been called in question more and more. But
we must find a relationship between the industrialised
states and the countries of the third
world and as well between the raw material
countries, oil-exporting countries on the one
hand, the industrial countries on the other. Also
a new relationship between Europe and extra-
European countries like yours and like, for
instance, New Zealand, is to be established.*
And there is no mistaking the fact that nations in
their economic performance are becoming
increasingly interdependent. Nobody can secure
lasting advantages for himself or for his
own national economy by taking unilateral
measures or by embarking on mercantilistic
autonomous economic policies.
World economic problems are a central theme
of our talks today. I would feel that in this very
year of 1975 there is hardly any problem of
such overriding importance in terms of foreign
policy, in terms of world policy, as is the complex
of economic problems in which we find
ourselves entangled.
The main prerequisite for restoring stability and
achieving progress is, we feel, and I think I can
say this not only for the German Government
but also for the great mass of thinking people in
our country, irrespective of their political lean
ings, co-operation and partnership between the
industrialised countries; between the producers
and the consumers of oil, raw materials; between
the third world and the industrialised
world.
The past few months, I might as well say the
past few weeks, have shown that it is not
impossible to find a basis for common action.'
The danger of solutions to these problems being
found in unilateral protectionist measures
seems to be a little smaller now since everybody
has recognised the negative effect they will
have on the world economy and thereby on
national economies and on the individual.
Prime Minister, we have the impression that
Australia has seized the opportunity of the
present time and that Australia is making a contribution
both in the Pacific and also on a worldwide
basis which natural resources and the
achievements of its people permit it to make. We welcome in particular the contribution
which Australia is making in her own regions
towards the development of neighbours in need
of help in other Asian states. I also very warmly
welcome your effort in strengthening
European / Australian ties by your present tour
of the Old Continent, and, of course, we very
heartily welcome you on the soil of our country.
The history of your country enables you to
understand our European problems. I thank
you, Mr Prime Minister, for this understanding,
and I would like to endorse what you-at least
by the reports I have seen-seem to have said at
the beginning of the month here in Europe. You
are reported to have said you believed the West
would in general be much stronger, happier and
more successful if Western countries cooperated
with each other and that included cooperation
between-I dare say-Great Britain
and its neighbours on the Continent. In spite of
all strains the spirit of European co-operation
has so far withstood the tests.
We have found our way to pragmatic solutions
and have not capitulated in the face of problems.
We will continue to intensify our political
co-operation and proceed along the road to
European integration.
Prime Minister, we agree that the foreign policies
of our two countries have one overriding
aim, namely to safeguard peace. The Federal
Republic of Germany on her part will continue
the present policy of detente steadfastly and
consistently. This policy seems to us to be the
best way to achieve a stable peace in Europe
and throughout the world in which the German
people too can regain-even if we have a long
way to go-can attain or regain their unity in
free self-determination. Detente policies in the
multilateral sphere are a necessary supplement
to our bilateral efforts. We also know that the
political solidarity and the defence potential of
the West are indispensable prerequisites for any
process of detente. We appreciate your coming
here at a time of such crucial importance for
both world peace and the world economy. Your
visit marks an important phase of relations between
our two countries, and I am confident
that you take home the impression that
German -Australian co-operation continues to
develop on the basis of lasting friendship.
Speech by the Prime Minister of Australia at a luncheon given in his
honour by the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany in
Bonn on 17 January 1975
I have been touched, Mr Chancellor, by the
warm welcome and the generous hospitality
you have extended to me and my party during
our stay in the Federal Republic. My visit to
Germany is the culmination of an extensive visit
I have made in recent weeks to several countries
of Europe. It is fitting that I should conclude my
European tour in the nation that best symbolises
two of the broad themes I have sought to
develop and explore. The first of these is
Australia's wish to strengthen her trade and
economic links with the European community.
This message has a special significance in Germany.
As the richest and most powerful nation
in Western Europe, you have a strong, and
perhaps decisive, voice in shaping the future
prosperity of Europe and the Western World.
My second theme has been the interdependence
of nations, the overriding need for cooperation
and understanding in solving our
common problems. No nation has set a better
example in this than Germany, a vigorous and
co-operative member of the European Community,
and the nation whose wise and farsighted
initiatives did much to set in train the
great movement of detente, on which depend
so much of the hopes of mankind for a better
and more peaceful world.
Germany, then, has a central and crucial role in
the shaping of a more rational world order. I
know you will accept the responsibilities for
which your great economic and industrial
strength have prepared you. The achievements
of the German people in rebuilding their nation
during the past thirty years have been an example,
an inspiration, to the world. I believe
Australia is well placed to work with you in
strengthening the economic foundations of the
Western Nations. We are both highly
developed, highly industrialised countries.
Australia is rich in resources and raw materials,
and I have been at pains to stress, during my
visit to Europe, our readiness to make these
resources available on fair terms to the nations
that need them. I repeat that assurance today. At the same time Australia needs Germany's
exports and manufactured goods to develop her
own industrial economy. We also need and
welcome your capital investment.
The interdependence of our two economies is a
source of strength to both of us. It is equally
important that we recognise and encourage the
same interdependence among all nations.
Economic co-operation must be thorough, it
must be universal, if the world is to overcome
the complex and daunting problems that confront
it. In every Western country I have visited
national leaders face the same problems of unemployment,
inflation, energy shortages, social
unrest and incipient recession. There has never
been a time when international consultations
and co-operation were more necessary. There
has never been a time when generosity and farsightedness
were more necessary There has
never been a time when it was more important
for nations to keep their nerve and keep their
faith in calm and rational solutions. It is a
crowded world. It is a complicated world. It is a
dangerous world. Nothing will be gained if
nations live for themselves. Nothing will be
gained by the wealthier nations-like Germany,
like Australia-if our policies on trade or
resources or foreign aid fail to take account of
the needs of less fortunate peoples.
In particular, I believe there is scope for greater
co-operation between producers and consumers
of raw materials to build a better framework
for the orderly and rational development of
production and trade. There is a greater need for
freer, more open trade policies among all
nations. Australia in the past two years has
sought to promote these conditions through her
own policies. We warmly and wholeheartedly
support the ideal of European unity and the
spirit of international co-operation embodied in
it. We applaud Germany's constructive and
creative role in Europe. We seek to be a partner
of a vigorous and outward-looking Europe-a
Europe with the widest possible membership, a
Europe offering the widest and fullest access to
its total market.
During my visit to Europe I have sought the
understanding of Australia's friends for the new
independent role Australia is following in the
world. I believe we have a rather special and
fortunate place in international affairs. Relatively
remote from the scenes of historic rivalries
and conflicts, we are trying to see political questions
objectively, free from the passions of
alignment, though remaining loyal to our traditional
alliances and staunch in our friendships.
As major exporters of food, fibres and
minerals, we have much in common with the
developing countries. We share their concern to
secure a just return for producers and stable
terms of trade. We believe in the right of states
to sovereignty over their natural resources.
Yet, as an industrialised country, we understand
the needs of the exporter of manufactured
goods. We seek to play our full part in the main
tenance of international peace and security.
Like Germany we support the efforts of the
United Nations in the pursuit of justice and
world order. Guided in large measure by the
Federal Republic's contribution towards the
promotion of detente and the achievement of
peace in Central Europe, Australia will cooperate
towards the same end in the Indian
Ocean and in our region of South-East Asia.
Our common interest in peace and world security
is inseparable from our common interest in
stable economic growth and the rising prosperity
of all nations.
There are good reasons, Mr Chancellor, why
Australians and Germans are well fitted to work
together and develop their friendship. Our
countries are both federations. We understand
each other's problems of economic management,
of federal -state co-operation, of regional
development. Our bilateral trade is growing.
Australian manufacturers exhibit more and
more frequently in your remarkable trade fairs.
The already close links between German and
Australian industry will, I hope, be further
promoted by an agreement on co-operation in
science and technology. The flow of German
migrants to Australia continues, though at the
reduced level made necessary by the uncertainty
of employment. I pay tribute here in your
Federal Capital to the hundreds of thousands of German migrants who have helped to
strengthen and diversify our cultural traditions;
and develop our important industries. In recerN
years the Stuttgart Ballet has come to Australial
and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra has
played in German cities. We want to increase
the range and frequency of these cultural
exchanges. Mr Chancellor, my visit to Germany is only the
second which an Australian Prime Minister has
paid to the Federal Republic. Sir Robert Menzies
made a short, informal visit to your country in
19g59. Another visit was overdue. I am grateful
for the warmth and cordiality of our talks and for
the frank understandings we have reached
together. I have sought in recent weeks to dispel
the impression-a common impression in Australia-
that Europe no longer matters to
Australia, that our interests, our destiny, lie exclusively
in Asia and the nations to our north. All
I have seen and heard convinces me that
Australia's future and prosperity are
inseparable from yours. The Common Market is
our second largest trading partner. I shall leave
Germany knowing that our two countries can
make an important contribution together to the
solution of our problems and the strengthening
of our f riendsh ip.
I shall leave Europe convinced that Australia can
never turn aside from this ancient centre of
power and ideas, that with reason and goodwill-
and above all with peaceful co-operation
-the nations of the West will triumph over their
present difficulties and embark on a new phase
of progress and enlightenment. 111 16/ 75-L R74/ 1 589