P R I M E  M I N I S T E R UZL . _______________

For Media - Embargoed until 12.01 a*iiu G August 19 83

Today is the thirty-eighth anniversary of the dropping of an

atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima.  This event added a new

and terrible dimension to the scourge of war. On behalf of the

Government, I wish to mark the occasion by reaffirming our

dedication to the pursuit of world peace and our commitment to

policies designed to halt and reverse the arms race.

The appalling sacrifice made by the people of Hiroshima and

Nagasaki in 1945 is a permanent reminder to us that the

spectre of nuclear holocaust looms over the world and presents

a fundamental challenge to all governments. Australia, under

the Labor Government, is paying special attention to the field

of arms control and disarmament.  In the short period since we

came to office, the Government has announced a number of

initiatives in this field. We have appointed Australia's

first Ambassador for Disarmament and are strengthening our

capacity to handle disarmament questions.

Notwithstanding the complexity and divisiveness of many

of these issues, we will do what we can to ensure that the

tragedy of Hiroshima is not repeated.

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*Â·. ’I' LX, ÃÂ * Â· " : V

