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PRIME MINISTER
E. O. E. -PROOF ONLY
PARTIAL TRANSCRIPT OF INTERVIEW ON 5AA, ADELAIDE, 4 MARCH 1985
JOURNALIST: Inaudible
PM: Well, that's a very relevant question which doesn't lend
itself to an easy slick answer. Just let me take a little bit of
time on it. The Americans say that they don't want the ANZUS
Treaty to be torn up. They want it to stay in place there so that
if at some later time the New Zealanders change their attitude,
normal relations can be resumed under it. But they say,
correctly, that the nature of the relations have changed as a
result of the New Zealand decision. So they want to keep the
bilateral relations between the United States and New Zealand as
strong and effective and functioning as possible. And so do we.
That is between Australia and the United States. similarly,
as far as we are concerned between Australia and New Zealand we
want to keep the relationship effective because we are the two
major powers in the South Pacific area and there are obligations
and responsibilities that attach to that status. And the
Americans understand that. So what is really happening now is
that I have asked Mr Beazley and Mr Hayden to prepare a detailed
submission for the Cabinet which we will consider within the next
week, I would think I think the week after this one in which
the detailed implications of that philosphy that I have just put
are spelt out. That is, Australia, the Australian Government
remains totally committed to the Alliance relationship with the
United States and we are going to see that everything involved in
that relationship is maintained. At the same time we want to
maintain an effective relationship with New Zealand so we have got
to see what is involved in doing that. At the same time, and I
make this final point, as a result of the United States decision
that it will not pass on US-sourced intelligence to New Zealand,
we must and will respect that so that that requires also some
detailed planning in that any mixed source intelligence has got to
bhe looked at so that nothing of United States origin goes onto New
Zealand.
JOURNALIST: Inaudible.
2
PM: Well we must and we will. I mean, the United States
relationship is fundamental as far as this Government is
concerned. And I have made that clear from the time I first
campaigned in 1983. It remains central in our international
relationships. That doesn't mean, of course, as I have said, that
we are subservient to the United States, that we won't have*
different points of view to them on particular issues. We do and
we will, but nevertheless that alliance relationship is central.
We will continue to accept our obligations under that relationship
of hosting joint facilities, of making our ports available for
visits of United States ships under that alliance. These things
will remain. We are not in the business of punishing New Zealand,
but what New Zealand itself has to understand that as a result of
its own autonomous decision that there will be certain reactions
in respect of its relationship with the United States.
JOURNALIST: Inaudible.
PM: n No, well the United States would not be expecting that this
Australian Government would in fact impose sanctions upon New
Zealand. They wouldn't expect us to, nor have they in any sense
asked us, but the problem for New Zealand rather comes as a result
of its own decisions vis a vis the United States. I mean, that
will be a decision which as time goes on they will no doubt have
to assess. I believe that they did not expect the extent of
reaction that has already taken place, but I have made it-clear
from the beginning, Leighton, that this Government is not in the
business of trying to pressure New Zealand. I mean, it has to
make up its own mind where it goes.
JOURNALIST: Inaudible.
PM: OK, Leighton, thank you very much. Best wishes.