Issu m-4be ice of
the Press ecrtary.
PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES
The Prime Minister, Mr. John Gorton, will leave for
the United States on Thursday for the official talks in Washington
which were postponed because of General Eisenhower's death last
month. The discussions with President Nixon and senior
members of his Administration will be held on Tuesday and
Wednesday ( 6th and 7th) of next week.
The Prime Minister, accompanied by Mrs. Gorton,
will travel by Qantas direct to San Francisco, where they will

tSSUED FROM THE OFFICE
OF THE PRESS SECRETARY.
FOR PRESSPORTAITSOF PRIMEMINISTERS
The Historic Memorials Committee has commissioned
portraits of the Prime Minister and two former Prime Ministers.
Mr Gorton's portxait is being painted by Mr Russell
Drysdale; Mr McEwen's by Mr W. A. Dargie; and the late Mr Holt's
portrait by Mr W. E. Pidgeon.
It is expected that the portraits of Mr Gorton and
Mr McEwen will be completed and considered by the Historic
Memorials Committee shortly. If the Committee accepts them, they

8 MAY 1969
4 4
FOR PRESS: P. M. No. 37/ 1969
DEBATE ON DEFENCE SPACE RESEARCH FACILITY
Comment by the Prime Minister, Mr. John Gorton
The Leader of the Opposition had a complete opportunity
this evening to agree that my statement should be taken note of by the
House. This gave the Opposition the opportunity for a full debate at a
time of their choosing. He indicated that he did not want this opportunity. If
he has now changed his mind I should be glad to accommodate him by
providing the chance for a debate on whether or not it is to Australia's

SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE RT. HON.
JOHN 0. GORTON, MP, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
23 APRIL 1969
DEFENCE SPACE COMMUNICATIONS FACILITY
I have to inform the House that the Government has
accepted proposals which were made by the United States Government
for the establishment in Australia of a joint United States / Australian
defence space communications facility.
The facility will be located at Woomera. A site survey
party from the United States is expected to visit Woomera soon.
Construction should commence in September or October

ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE OF ISRAEL
Festival Hall, Melbourne 22 APRIL 1969
Speech by the Prime Minister, Mr. John Gorton
Mr. President, Mr. Ambassador and Fellow Australians of Jewish
Faith or Jewish Descent:-
We stand here to give greetings to you all on a stage
from which those bright banners have just been carried banners
which symbolically bore the stars of the Southern Cross and the Star
of David. And how proper that is, for this association is not a recent
one. Back in the 1914-18 War, Australian soldiers, many of

PRESENTATION TO H. M. A. S. HOBART OF U. S.
NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION 14HAY 1969
SYDNEY, N. S. W. 21 APRIL 1969
Speech by the _ Prime Minister, Mr. John Gorton
Admiral Baumberger, Admiral Grabbe, Parliamentary Colleagues
and Distinguished Guests and Officers and Men of the Royal
Australian Navy:-This is a proud day for the Royal Australian Navy
and for the officers and men of HMAS Hobart in particular, all of
those who have served in her in the past or who are now serving in
her. To you, Admiral Baumberger, I say thank you for all

FOR PRESS PM. No. 36/ 1969
CURTIN BY-ELECTION 2
Comment by the Prime Minister, Mr John Gorton t
I congratulate Mr Garland on winning the Curtin
by-election with what it appears will be an absolute majority.
Voting in by-elections traditionally goes against
the Government. In this particular poll, neither ourselves nor the
Labor Party can draw much comfort from the figures. Factors
influencing the drop in Liberal support included the large numbers of
electors who failed to vote ( which is not unusual in by-elections in

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
SPEECH BY
The Rt Hon. J. G. GORTON, M. P.
ON
PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT OVERS
( Ministerial Statement) 2
[ From the ' Parliamentary Debates', 15 April 1969] r
Mr GORTON ( Higgins-Prime Minister)
-by leave-As honourable members are
aware, news of the death of the late
President Eisenhower on 28th March
reached Canberra on Saturday, 29th March,
a few hours before I was to have left on a
visit to Washington for discussions with
the President of the United States of

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
SPEECH BY
The Rt Hon. J. G. GORTON, M. P.
ON
AMl TO MALAYSIA AND SING 0
( Ministerial Statement
-[ From the ' Parliamentary Debates', 1S April 1969]
Mr G40RTON ( Higgins-Prime Minister)-
by leave-In the course of my statement
to this House on 25th February I
said: we shall continue our efforts to help with
the training of local Malaysians and Singaporean
forces which we expect will be increased in size
and capacity, and to provide financial assistance
for defence aid aimed at assisting Malaysia and

VISIT TO THE US AND CANADA
SYDNEY, N. S. W.
ARRIVAL PRESS CCNFERENCE GIVEN BY THE
PRIME MINISTER, MR JOHN GORTON, ON ARRIVAL a:
AT MASCOT AIRPORT6 6APR I L 16
PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, gentlemen. I think I have been
travelling for 26 hours, if my count is right. I will thro~ w this open
to anything you might want to ask me for a few minutes before I go
to get some rest.
Q. What were the results of your talks with
Mr Nixon, Sir?
PM: I think I would put it this way, that the real