PM Transcripts

FOR THE PRESS DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
CANBERRA
Released only in Canberra PR 16 h
WEST NEW GUINEA STATEIENT BY THE I. IINISTER
FOR EKTERNAL AFFAIRS
The inister for External Affairs, Sir Garfield Barwick,
referred today to reports claiming that the Australian Government
was due to change its attitude on the West New Guinea issue. " These
reports, acknowledged to be unofficial, are speculative", Sir
Garfield said. " The Governnent's position in respect of the
dispute was set out in a staterent made in Canberra by the Prime
Minister on January 12 after Cabinet had discussed the natter.
That statenent makes it clear that the government desires settlement
of the dispute by peaceful reans and not under duress or
threat of war. The Prime Iinister's statement also makes it clear
that Australia pre-eminently desires that the Papuans of West New
Guinea should, in due course, be given the right to choose their
own future. The Government has made no other decision.
In conformity with this unchanged policy, on the one
hand steps have been taken to persuade the parties to go to the
conference table, and on the other the Government has expressed its
disapproval of resort to war or threats of war. Hovwever, the
ultimate resolution of the matter is one for the parties themselves
with the assistance, the Australian Government hopes, of
the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Australia, not being
a party principal to the dispute, is not itself involved in these
negotiations. It has made it abundantly clear that it will
respect the voluntary agreement of the parties in conformity
with the principles of the Charter."