PRES OFFCE TANS9C IJPATNWUEADRNYE SD19A8Y0
INTERVIEW WITH PRESS AFGHANISTAN
Prime Minister
I will read through this first for those who want it on tape and
sound.
The Government today considered the report from the Foreign Minister
concerning the events in Iran and more specifically the Russian
invasion of Afghanistan.
The Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister have already condemned
the invasion of Afghanistan as totally without justification; as a
violation of everything the United Nations stands for; and as a mode
of behaviour which will make normal relationships between nations
totally impossible.
Soviet explanations of the Invasion have been rejected by the
Government. The Government, along with many others, is conscious that its actions
and decisions must be directed to seucring of circumstances where
this kind of behaviour will not be repeated.
The Russians have invaded Afghanistan. Now, collectively, the world
needs to demonstrate that the price of that invasion is much higher
than the Soviet envisaged and higher than they would be prepared to
contemplate on future occasions.
I made it plain this morning that it is not just a question of
wanting the Russians out of Afghanistan but of establishing the
circumstances in which this kind of action will not be repeated in
the future.
It is against that background that the Soviet Union needs to understan
that the price of its actions in Afghanistan will be a heavy one
indeed. There are inevitable limitations to the weight that a nation of 14
million people can put-into the scales. Nevertheless we have taken
a number-of decisions on" a broad front which are designed to
demonstrate concern and to register the strongest possible opposition
to the Soviet Union's actions.
Some days ago at an earlier ireeti ng the Government made a decision
and a consequent offer to the United States to consult with them
concerning greater Australian involvement in patrolling and
surveillance of the Indian Ocean. Much needs to be determined and
options considered, but this could involve Australian participation
with the United STates forces, or a greater independent effort by
Australia to survey larger areas of the Indian Ocean.
The United States has reciprocated warmly to that suggestion. It
is not one made merely against the short term position that we are
now confronting. It is one made against the background of changed
strategic circumstances which will involve greater co-operation
between Australia, her friends and allies.
PRESS OFFICE TRANSCRIPT
Andrew Peacock and myself have on many occasions indicated in the
past that our objective in the Indian Ocean was to achieve balance
at the lowest possible level. Those remarks and comments were
made in happier days. We now look to different circumstances.
-Australia will, support United States action in relation to wheat
sales to the Soviet Union. We will not pick up any of the short
fall created by that decision and will urge other wheat exporting
nations to take a similar view. Consistent with United States
actions normal sales to the Soviet Union will not be affected.
-We will be putting to the United States at a meeting being held
in Washington on Saturday that the 17 million tonnes shortfall
resulting from President Carter's decision, should be handled in
such a way that the international market in wheat is not prejudiced
-Any discussions or arrangements or agreements over fisheries
matters are indefinitely suspended. This has particular applicatio,
for two projects: a joint feasibility fishing venture of f the North,
West Shelf of the Western Australian coast; and a feasibility
fishing project involving jack mackerel in waters adjacent to
Tasmania. Any approvals previously given in relation to these fisheries
projects are henceforth withdrawn.
-USSR Liner Shipping services at present operate to and from
Australia in conference trades ( Australia to Europe Shipping
Conference) and in non-conference trades ( Australia to Europe, and
the triangular service East Asia/ Japan, USA and Australia).
Russian bulk shipping also carries primary produce bought by Russia,
from Australia.
These shipping-operations and other facilities provided by Australi
are currently being reviewed.
-There will be no further approvals for scientific research vessels
to visit our ports.
-The visit of the-Soviet Fisheries Delegation in February will not
be permitted into Australia.
We will not meet the Soviet request to station Aeroflot personnel
in Australia to facilitate the Russian Airline's services going
through Australia to other countries.
-In addition we are not prepared to consider their requests for
direct Soviet/ Australia air flights.
-Scientific collaboration with the Soviet Union is indefinitely
suspended.
-official talks and visits between Australia and the Soviet Union
are also indefinitely suspended.
-No new programs under the Cultural Program will be entered into.
-A number of countries have made statements concerning the Olympic
Games. Many, including Australia, would prefer, as a result of
recent events, that the Games were not being held in Moscow.
The Games are, however, an international event. They are not a
Russian event and should be seen in that context.
Any decision on this matter is therefore of a different kind to
decisions affecting bilateral relationships between Australia and
the Soviet Union. The Government will, therefore, be closely
examining these wider aspects and assessing the views of a
number of other countries.
In addition to these measures, the Government will be embarking on
a wide range of consultations with other countries.
And finally what has happened in Afghanistan has demonstrated that
the fears and concerns expressed in my Statement on Foreign Policy
in June 1976, and repeated on other occasions by the Foreign minister
have been only too realistic.
Question Prime Minister will our Ambassador be returning-to Moscow ( inaud.)?
Prime Minister
He will be returning.
Question Has there no thought been given to withdrawing him?
Prime Minister
We believe that it is important to be able to maintain communications,
to talk between governments. To shut off that kind of communication
is very much a final and last resort measure. We believe it makes
sense for diplomatic communication to be able to continue.
Question Prime Minister why isn't Australia stopping its wheat sales to Russiaits
beef sales, its wool sale All you say here is consistent with
United States actions. What is your reason for not taking actions
on these .( inaudr)
Prime Minister
Because what we have done is consistent with the United States actions.
Nobody has suggested that total commercial trade with the Soviet Union
should be ended. The Government did not judge that that step should
be taken.
Question But w hy Prime Minister?
Prime Minister
Because we judged it so.
Question But what are the reasons behind the judgment?
Prime Minister
It's a matter of judgment that the commercial sales of a normal kind
Prime Minister ( continued)
ought to continue. Most other countries I think are taking a similar
view. High technology trade is being suspended between the United
States and I think Britain and the Soviet Union. But on the other
hand that's an area where Australia is not really involved. Even in
relation to Iran, where trade boycotts have been considered, only
considered at this point, the general consensus has been that food
trade should be exempt from any sanctions that might one day unfold.
Question Sir that's a humanitarian reason.
Prime Minister
Has anyone else got a question.
Question Were there disparate voices in Cabinet, some individuals or groups
pushing for a further cut in agricultural exports and other groups
advocating what you decided..
Prime Minister
1\ nat's been decided was a total view of Cabinet. It would be
quite odd to give the views of individual ministers in Cabinet. But
let me only say on a wide range of these issues there was a remarkable
degree of unanimity on the kind of view that the Government ought to
take. Question Prime Minister in realistic terms how effective do you think this can
be? ( inaud.)
Prime Minister
I drew attention to-the fact that the weight of 14 million people put
into the scales is necessarily limited. That remains so. But it is
immensely important that countries such as the United States and
Britain should not be left to carry this kind of burden alone to
know that they do have friends, that they do have allies, that are
prepared to take what decisions they can in support of a general
position that's important for the free world.
Question Prime Minister if the US decided t o boycott the Olympic Games in
Moscow would you follow their lead?
Prime Minister
Well they haven't yet made that decision. We'll be keeping in close
touch with a number of governments in relation to the Olympic Gamnes.
I don't want to go beyond the remarks in the statement at this point.
Question Prime Minister what's your response to the Chinese initiative to draw
together countries to form some kind of alliance against the Soviet
Union? Prime Minister
I haven't had an analysis of that. I've seen a newspaper report and
I'd like to look more closely at what China has in fact proposed.
Question Would it be something along those lines something you would favouran
alliance?
Prime Minister
I'd like to understand what China has proposed because up to this
point it's been China's policy not to involve itself in foreign
military alliances of different kinds. At the moment the report I
have comes from the Melbourne Herald. ( That's not saying anything
particular about the Melbourne Herald except it's the only report I
have on that subject).
Question Prime Minister you suggested that shipping services will be reduced.
Does that include cruise ships operating?
Prime Minister
Yes. Question Prime Minister at what level and when will the consultations take
place with the United States~ about our further-involvement in the
Indian Ocean?
Prime Minister
Well they have been very much preoccupied. As the statement
points out, that's not just a proposal that is put against the
immediate background, immediate circumstance. It's designed as a long
term proposal which we believe could be useful in terms of broad
co-operation in security and strategic mnftters. So I think the timing is
really dependent upon the United States getting their decks cleared
of the pressing current issues and-that we stand ready to participate
in the talks whenever they are ready.
Question On the joint Tasmanian fishing venture, it says approval will be
withdrawn. Does that mean forever?
Prime Minister
Under present circumstances. Forever is a very long while.
Question ( inaud.)
Prime Minister
There are many countries that have been approaching us for access to
Australian fisheries and obviously in the months ahead our fisheries
arrangements won't stand still. We would be seeing what other
countries are prepared to offer, what other countries are prepared to
do. Question
You miention that we ' re -going to have greater Australian involverrent in
controlling the balance of the Indian Ocean. Can you give us any
details of how that involvement will be greater or will ( inaud)
or will we put ships into the area or...
Prime Minister
Well these are the kind of things that we need to talk to the United
States about. We're willing, we're prepared to make a greater effort
and it will then be a question of how that determination can best be
fitted into a total overall approach.
Question You don't think we should make that greater effort unilaterally?
Prime Minister
Yes but you'll get the best advantage from it if it's integrated with
what our friends and allies are also doing.
Question Do you envisage . a large or dramatic increase in Government expenditure
on defence capabilities?
Prime Minister
Defence expenditure has been rising in real terms. We've made
decisions which involve further increases in real terms.
Question Do you expect it to go beyond thos'e decisions and increase it even
more than you have in the past?
Prime Minister
Financial guidance that has been given to Defence in recent times
does involve a capacity, and within the financial guidance, for
making additional equipment decisions, additional material decisions.
Those matters aren't at the moment before Cabinet and obviously I
don't want to preempt that. But I'm just making the point that the
financial guidance that has been given does have within it room for
additional material decisions to those that have already been
announced.
Question Was the Minister for Defence at today's Cabinet meeting?
Prime Minister
He's on leave. He was fully represented by an acting Minister.
I spoke to him before the meeting. We had an exchange of views.
Question In the Government's view Sir, does the sum of these decisions you
have just announced, is it going to cost Australia very much either
economically or diplomatically?
Prime Minister
It will cost Australia economically in a number of ways. I think it's
difficult to put a firm figure on that but it will obviously cost
in a number of ways. To the extent that there is a cost it should be
one that's a community rather than directed at individual areas or
sectors, quite plainly. And in diplomatic terms I believe the cost
to us in diplomatic terms, in international and strategic terms will
be infinitely greater if we were not prepared to make this kind of
decision. Cost who with? Cost with your friends or cost with the
Soviet Union? There will be a cost in terms of relationships with
the Soviet Union. But in a sense that's already occurred. The kinds
of arguments and views that were put by the Soviet Ambassador to
myself and to the Foreign Minister again yesterday and the kind of
response that that attracted that in itself will involve some change,
at least in the atmospherics of relationships between the Soviet Union
and Australia. So there is a cost there. But it's a necessary one
and the advantages in other ways of doing what Australia can to stand
for something, to seek to look to the future the advantages in
taking action on that count are very real.
000---