FOR PRESS: P. M. No. 5/ 1966
JOINT ME~ ETING OF U" OVERMNT PARTIES
Statement by the Prime Mvinister, Sir Robert Menzies
I have convened a joint meeting of the
Government Parliamentary Parties in Canberra on Thursday,
January. By this date I will be in a position to
clarify my own intentions, and I feel that whichever way
my decision goes, the members of the Government Parties are
entitled to be told first.
CA1NBERRA, January, 1966.

FOR PRESS P. M. No. 4/ 1966
VISIT BY GOVERNOR LIRIMAN
Statement by the Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies
1,1r. Averell Harriman, United States Ambassador
at Large, will visit Australia during the course of his
current visits to a number of world capitals.
i. Lr. Harriman is expected to arrive in
Canberra on Sunday evening and , ill have discussions with
senior members of the Government on Monday.
ie had close and intimate talks with M'r.
Harriman on the occasion of his last visit to Australia

FOR PRESS:

PM No.3/1966

The Secretary of the Department of Supply, Mr. J. L. Knott, C.B.E.,has been appointed Deputy High Commissioner for Australia in the United Kingdom.

The new Deputy High Commissioner will take up his post in London shortly, succeeding Sir Allen Brown, C.B.E., who is now Australian Ambassador to Japan.

FOR PRESS: P. M. No. 2/ 1966
RHODESIA
Statement by the Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies
Cabinet yesterday, after a complete review of
the proposals of the Prime Minister of Nigeria for a special
Commonwealth Conference on Rhodesia, reaffirmed its view,
which I had already announced, that such a conference should
not be attended by Australia as a participant. We will ask
Sir Abubakar Balewa to permit our High Commissioner to Nigeria,
Mr. Cumes, to attend as an observer only.
ire have taken our decisions on this matter on a

EMBARGO: NOT FOR PUBLICATION, BROADCASTING OR CABLING BEFORE 2 A. M.,
6TH JANUARY, 1966.
FOR PRESSCA pi4 Miij. 1/ 1966
TALKS WITH THE BRITISH SECRETARY OF STATE
FOR D ; FENCTStatement
by the Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies
The British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs,
Mr. Stewart, and the British Secretary of State for Defence,
Mr. Healey, will be visiting iashington on 27th January for
talks with the American Government.
These talks are in connection with the British Defence

FOR P1~ NEoS. 9S9P/. 1916% 5!
M1ESSAGE FROM TH{ E PRflE MINISTER, SIR ROBERT IENZIES
December, 1965
NE~ iv YEAR DIESSAGE
I extend New Year greetings to all of my fellow Australians.
We wish for, and expect, a continuation of prosperity at
home; but at the same time we recognise that our domestic prQsperity
can be substantially influenced by events abroad.
So. in this New Year greeting, I would like to take a quick, 4
but not, I hope, a superficial look, at three immediate problems

65/! 49
FOR FIdESS P. M. Np. / 1965
2EPLY TO NIGFRIA'S INVITATION TO CONFENCE ON iH0DESIA
( The t. H Ti.
I have written to the Prime Minister of Nigeria, the 1-t. Hon.
Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, informing him that, under the existing
circumstances, Australia is not in favour of the convening of a special
Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference on -Ihodesia.
I told Sir Abubakar that, because of our deep respect for him,
and for his high character and motives, we had given careful
consideration to the invitation to the Conference. I then outlined

AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVE~ RSITY BILL, 126.,
Second Reading Speech by the Prime Minister,
the Rt. Hon. Sir Robert Meniies WHouse
ofRepresentatives. December, 1965.
This Bill proposes several amendments to the Act under
which the Australian National University operates. Some of
these -amendments meet the desire of the University Council,
agreed to by the Government, to abolish the office of Principal
of the School of General Studies when Professor Herbert Burton
retires at the end of this year. Professor Burton has, of

FOR PRESS: P2. L No. 97/ 1965
SOUTH VIET NAM. CLASP FOR AUSTRALIANS
Statement by the Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies
Her M; 1aj esty The Queen has approved the award of
a special clasp to the General Service Medal 1962 for
Australians serving in South Viet Nam.
The award will be made in recognition of
operational service in Viet Nam and terms and conditions
for the South Viet Kami Clasp will be similar to those for
the recently-announced Borneo Clasp. In most cases, the
qualification for the General Service Medal and appropriate

FOR PRESS P. M. No. 96/ 1965
DEAMTH OF VICE-ADMIRAL SIR HASTINGS HARRIEGTON
Tribute by the Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies
The death of Sir Hastings Harrington, so
unexpected, is a great loss.
After distinguished service in the Royal
Australian Navy, Admiral Harrington entered upon his duty
as Australian Commissioner-General to the Montreal Exposition.
This, I know, he found tremendously interesting, and in my
last discussion with him little more than a week or ten
days ago, he was in his usual acute frame of mind, and