OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER
CANBERRA
FRENCH NUCLEAR TESTING
Since the Opposition today in statements by Mr Howard, Mr Downer,
Mr Fischer and Mr Taylor has chosen to respond to the French nuclear test
in a blatantly party political and cynical way it may be worth remembering
Mr Howard's initial response to the French decision to resume testing
( attached).
CANBERRA 6 SEPTEMBER 1995
TRANSCRIPT OF THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION DOORSTOP,
CAIRNS COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 14 JUNE 1995 EXTRACT
JH: any reasonable, diplomatic moves and protests which the
Federal Government wants to take will have our full support.
J: Would that go as far as say, withdrawing the Ambassador from Paris?
JH: Well, I think, that's a little premature at this stage.
J: Tim Fischer was suggesting this morning the possibility of a consumer
boycott of French goods. Do you endorse that?
JH: Well, we'll talk about the matter this morning.
LATER THE SAME
JH: I support the recall of our Ambassador for consultations. I am
keeping the situation under review. I have discussed it with Alexander
Downer and I will be discussing the matter with my other colleagues
again next week. But certainly what the Government has done so
far is an appropriate response.
J: What about trade sanctions?
JH: I wouldn't, at this stage, be arguing for trade sanctions. I understand
also that some people have called, and I certainly agree with them as
individuals, to boycott things. It is one of those situations that you
have got to keep under review and just the response today is not
necessarily the final response. Sometimes in these matters what
you should do is give an initial response and if that doesn't
produce any result, then you might consider a further response
and it is never smart in those situations to fire all your shots at
once.
ENDS