PARIS TALKS PROCEED
Comment in the House of Representatives by the
Prime Minister, Mr. John Gorton
I welcome the fact that as a result of discussions
between the United States and the Republic of Vietnam, the way
is now open for talks to proceed in Paris.
As I informed the House on 5 November, Australia
had already advised the South Vietnam Government that we felt
their interests would be best served by their representatives
attending the talks in Paris. I am therefore glad that as the outcome

FOR PRESS! P. M. No. 93/ 1968
NEW SOUTH WALES BUSHFIRES
Statement by the Prime Minister, Mr. John Gorton
I wish to express on behalf of myself and the
Commonwealth Government sincerest sympathy to those who
have suffered in the New South Wales bushfires.
We have already announced our preparedness
to contribute $ 50, 000 on a dollar for dollar basis with New South
Wales for the relief of personal hardship and distress suffered
by those people affected by the fires.
But the Premier of New South Wales has now told

FOR PRESS: P. M. No. 92/ 1968
MESSAGE FROM MR. NIXON
The Prime Minister has received the following message
from the President-elect, Mr. Nixon:-
Dear Mr. Prime Minister,
I am deeply grateful for your message
from the Government and people of Australia. It will
be a source of strength in the days ahead to know that
the United States has a firm friend in the Pacific, sharing
our aspirations for peace and prosperity. The bonds
between our countries are already strong. My
Administration will make every effort to continde

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
SPEECH BY 4\ X
The Rt Hon. J. G. GORTON, M. P.
ON
GORTON GOVERNMENT
Want of Confidence Motion
[ From the ' Parliamentary Debates,' 19 November 1968]
Mr GORTON ( Higgins-Prime Minister)
[ 8.25]-l had thought that, when a motion
of no confidence was presented by the
Leader of the Opposition ( Mr Whitlam).
there might have been some significant and
reasoned argument on some major point of
attack on the Government, that some matter
of national importance might have been

OPENING OF THE MA[ T CONROY MEMORIAL POOL 68/ 172
AT MARYMEAD CHILDREN'S CENTlRE
NARRABUNDAH, A. C. T. 16 NOVEMBER 1968
Speech by the Prime Minister, Mr. John Gorton
Mr. Chairman, Mrs. Conroy, Ladies and Gentlemen:-
In a very few short moments, I will be opening and naming
this Matt Conroy Wading Pool. I am glad to have been asked to do it for two
reasons. One is a personal reason; and that is that Matt Conroy and his
family lived just across the street from us when we first came to live in

68/ 171
GREENSBOROUGH LIBERAL PARTY BRANCH LUNCHEON
BUNDOORA, Victoria NOVEMBER 1968
Speech by the Prime Minister, Mr John Gorton
Mr Chairman, Mr Jarman, newly-selected candidate for this electorate
and Ladies and Gentlemen: The real purpose of my coming here today was to have
an opportunity to meet as many of you individually as possible. It was not
to make a long and involved speech, particularly since most of you are
standing up, and long and involved speeches under those circumstances are
not always received with the greatest bonhomie.

FOR PRESS PM. No. 91 1968
CONTROL OF CORAL SEA ISLANDS
The Governments of Australia and the United
Kingdom today exchanged letters in which the British Government
recognised Australian control over a number of small islands in the
Coral Sea off the East Coast of Australia.
The islands concerned are
Bird Islet, West Islet and other islands forming part of
Wreck Reef.
Cato Island
Herald Beacon Islet and other islands forming part of Mellish
Reef
Observatory Cay and other islands forming part of Frederick
Reef

FOR PRESS: P. M. No. 90/ 1968
TASMANIAN DROUGHT RELIEF
Following is the text of a telegram sent by the Prime
Minister this evening to the Premier of Tasmania ( Mr. E. E. Reece):-
" YOUR LETTER OF 22 OCTOBER RE SEASONAL CONDITIONS
TASMANIAN EAST COAST. WE ARE PREPARED TO ACCEPT
THAT THE CONDITIONS, IF REQUIRING RELIEF LOANS OF
$ 1 MILLION FOR DROUGHT AFFECTED FARMERS, WOULD
CALL FOR COMMONWEALTH ASSISTANCE. YOU WILL
UNDERSTA ND THAT COMMONWEALTH WOULD NOT BE
EXPECTED TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IF SUBSTANTIAL

FOR PRESS PM. NO. 89,. 1968
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
Message from the Prime Minister, Mr john Gorton
The Prime Minister today instructed the Australian
Ambassador in Washington to convey the following message to Mr
Richard Nixon " PLEASE ACCEPT THE CONGRATULATIONS AND
BEST WISHES OF THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF AUSTRALIA.
YOU CAN COUNT ON OUR UNDERSTANDING AND OUR
GOODWILL AS YOU UNDERTAKE THE HEAVY RESPONSIBILITIES
THAT LIE AHEAD. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONTINUATION OF THE
CLOSE CO-OPERATION AND WARM FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
SPEECH BY
The Rt Hon. J. G. GORTON, M. P.
ON
VIETNAM
Ministerial Statement
,[ From the ' Parliamentary Debates,' 5 November 1968.]
Mr GORTON ( Higgins-Prime Minister)
-by leave-In September 1967 the President
of the United States in a speech at
San Antonio, Texas, publicly offered to halt
all bombing of North Vietnam as soon as
the North Vietnamese indicated that such a
halt would lead promptly to serious and
productive discussions on the substance of
a peaceful settlement in South Vietnam.