FOR MEDIA 8 NOVEMBER 1984
I received late this afternoon the following telex:
" Dear Mr Hawke,
I have read in the latest Australian Business Magazine and in today's Melbourne Herald a statement alleged to have been made by Mr John Elliott in relation to your meeting with the National Mutual Board in Canberra on September. I have disucssed these statements with Mr Elliott and he tells me that they are totally incorrect.
I wish to confirm that I personally made the invitation to you in a letter dated 9 March 1984. As you are aware, a similar invitation was issued to Mr Keating but he was unable to attend due to his absence overseas. No other invitations were issued.
National Mutual looks forward to continued close consultations with Governments.
Yours sincerely,
E. A. Mayer
Managing Director
National Mutual"