DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

CANBERRA

FOR THE PRESS

PR 112 26th August, 1968

CONFERENCE OF NON-NUCLEAR WEAPON STATES

The Minister for External Affairs, Mr. Paul Hasluck, M.P., announced

today that Australia had accepted an invitation from the Secretary-General of the

United Nations to attend the conference of non-nuclear weapon states, to be held in

Geneva from 29th August - 28th September.

Mr. Hasluck said that the Australian delegation would be:

Sir Laurence McIntyre, C.B.E., Deputy Secretary, Department of External Affairs (leader)

H.E. Mr. A.M. Morris, O.B.E. , Australian Ambassador to Austria.

Mr. G.F. Cawsey, Department of Defence.

Mr. A.D. Thomas, Australian Atomic Energy Commission.

Mr. H.C. Mott, Department of External Affairs.

Mr. Hasluck recalled that the United Nations General Assembly had decided,

in its resolution 2346E of 19th December, 1967, to convene the conference in Geneva

from 29th August - 28th September this year.

He said that, although the treaty for the non-proliferation of nuclear

weapons had been considered by the United Nations General Assembly and had been

opened for signature, it was likely that some of the implications of the treaty would

be discussed at the conference of non-nuclear countries. In particular it was

expected that the development of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy which was en-visaged under the treaty would receive considerable attention.

Other likely subjects for discussion at the conference were disarmament

measures and matters relating to the security of non-nuclear weapon states.

