US I LIA~
FOR PRESS 22 JUNE 1977
SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER ON ARRIVAL
CEREMONY AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Mr President, it is a great pleasure to be in Washington again,
and I thank you for your warm welcome. You have recognised
and stated clearly the need for the democracies to consult more
closely and work in cooperation with one another, to show
unity and purpose.
I think we all have to realise the need for increased communication,
and cooperation between the democracies. Confidence in ourselves,
in the values we share in the ca'jac ity and strength of free people,
is essential if progress is to be made in resolving the problems
faced by mankind.
These problems are of urgent and fundamental importance to all of
us. We are faced by the inability of of many countries to escape from
poverty, growing world concern o ver the availability of energy
resources, the denial of fundamental freedoms to many people, the
continued potential for conflict, the possibility of nuclear
proliferation, and arms races.
These problems demand greater attention. For too long, words
have been a substitute for effective action
We have to act now with a sense of urgency and determination.
Millions of people throughout the world want progress in the
resolution of these problems. This was reflected clearly in the
Commonwealth Heads of Government conference I have just attended
in London.
Mr President, as a near neighbour to many developing countries,
as a significant source of many important commodities, as
a country with an unswerving faith in democracy, Australia
is determined to play her part in making progress towards
these ends.
Mr President, you have shown that you are determined to use the
strength and influence of the United States to bring about a more
secure and equitable world, a world in which poorer nations' economic
development is accelerated, in which deprivation is confronted
and the pernicious doctrine of one' race's superiority over another
is banned for all time. / 2
There are many obstacles in the way of achieving these objectives
It is always the case that the more important the goal, the greater
the barrier to achieving it. But the barriers to achieving a
better world might well be insuperable, if the greatest democratic
power were not playing an active and enlightened international role.
Mr President, we believe therefore, that your Presidency has
excited men's imagination because it has appealed to the
idealism of free people, because it has focused concern
on issues which had not previously attracted the urgent attention
they require, and because it has stressed the need for consultation
and cooperation among the democracies.
Free men can have renewed faith in realising the aspirations
we share. 0000oo00000