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N E W S  R E L E A S E

D.11 17 January 1975

N Q  D A T E

PRIME MINISTER'S PRESS CONFERENCE - PARIS  7 JANUARY 1975

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The following is the transcript of a press  conference given by the Prime Minister, The Hon. E.G. Whitlam, in Paris at 1800 hours on 7 January 1975:

Begins: Are there any questions ladies and gentlemen?

Question: Mr Prime Minister, would it be possible to ask if in principle a tripartite uranium deal with Japan and France  has been decided upon?

Prime Minister: As you are aware Japan and Australia are conducting a feasibility study into the enrichment of  Australian uranium deposits in Australia. Neither of us has  the technology required. You have also been informed, a couple

of days ago, that there will be British officials visiting  Australia in a couple of months time in this connection. They  may be accompanied by West German and Dutch officials because  Britain, The Netherlands and West Germany share one particular

form of uranium enrichmentÂ» Any discussion with French officials  would take place after that.

Question: May I ask a supplementary question my Prime

Minister, the French Consul in Australia is a nuclear physicist  and has been carrying on discussions with the Australian Atomic  Energy Commission for some two yearsÂ» Is this irrelevant?

Prime Minister: I didn't know this.

Question: Could you tell us the main points of your talk

with President Giscard d'Estaing?

Prime Minister: The President's and my conversations were  purely tete-a-tete and I therefore would rather not list.subÂ­ jects we discussed. Also, you will notice I answered the er question outside any context of discussions I had with

the President in particular. I think it ought to be sufficient .   for me to say that in the tete-a-tete with Prime Minister Chirac  yesterday and President Giscard d'Estaing today a wide range of  matters of common interest was discussed. I mustn't specify  clearly what the subjects were or were not.

Question: Could you tell us why you made a public apology

to the skipper of the Illawarra?

Prime Minister: An explanation by the Captain was brought to  my notice.

Question: Do you intend to ask Mr Chirac to come to

Australia.

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Prime Minister: I'm having dinner with him tonight and I  did have this in mind.

Question: Mr Prime Minister has any progress been made during your visit to establishing a cultural or scientific  agreement between France and Australia?

Prime Minister: This was raised in the talks between the two sides yesterday afternoon and I'm confident that the preparÂ­ ation of both cultural and scientific agreements will proceed  quite rapidly. We would be very happy indeed to have such

agreements with France because France's cultural pre-eminence  has been known for centuries and her scientific achievements  for some decades.

Question: Does Australia maintain a continuing objection to French nuclear testing even if its not in the atmosphere.  Would you state precisely what that objection is and will that  be a factor in any uranium deals of whatever sort between  Australia and France?

Prime Minister: Australia would rather there were no nuclear  testing at all. Nevertheless nuclear testing does proceed  underground and has for some years.

Question: Will it affect Australia..... ?

Prime Minister: I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to  your colleague from the Australian Financial Review.

Question: Would Australia sell uranium to any country if it ^  were using that uranium to make nuclear weapons?

Prime Minister: I've got nothing more to say bn this than I've  already said. You know quite well what the Australian GovernÂ­ ment's attitude is to sales of uranium in one form or another.

Question: Could you elaborate on this for the French....

Prime Minister: Well what I've said previously is that all the  sales we've made up till now have been within the terms of the  IAEA safeguards.

Question: Since France has not signed the Nuclear NonÂ­ Proliferation Treaty and does not accept the IAEA safeguards  does that rule out the possibility of Australia selling  uranium to it?

Prime Minister: No further comment.

Question: Could you tell us why you won't comment on

that rather crucial and controversial aspect?

Prime Minister: It appears quite clearly from the first question  I was asked today and the answer I gave to it.

Question: Could you please state again why you won't

answer this question?

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Prime Ministers I said that any discussions on this matter  would take place - "any", "would" ~ take place after those  that have already been arranged, ;

Question: Are you considering reconstructing the Atomic Energy Commission in Australia along American lines by splitÂ­ ting it so as to diversify the defence aspects and the economic  energy aspects?

Prime Minister: No consideration has been given to this so far  and I won't speculate as to what may be done.

Question: Have you no worries about the powers given to

the Atomic Energy Commission under the present Act?

Prime Minister: No consideration has been given to altering those  powers, .

Question: The question about the tripartite cooperation between France and between Australia and Japan in fact has been  discussed before the Labor Government came into power.

Prime Minister: Not I think with Japan had it? -

Question: Yes I believe it had.

Prime Minister: Oh well I didn't know that.

Question: (unclear,,,Ã¢ÂÂwhy are you so secretive about these discussions?)

Prime Minister: We have made arrangements for some discussions  and any further discussions would take place after the discussions  which have already been arranged. Those are the only discusÂ­ sions which have been arranged.

Question: Did you explain your views on the future of the

South Pacific region with the French leaders? What did you say  and what were their comments?

Prime Minister: This wasn't discussed yesterday or today. It  was recently discussed about a month ago when Mr Froment Meurice  was in Canberra,

Question: Could we know a bit more about what you said to

him?

Prime Minister: I'd rather you askec^ihe a specific question as to  attitude on any particular aspect. There again I don't believe  it appropriate for me to detail discussions which have been  tete-a-tete.

Question: What is the future of Franco/Australian relations?

Prime Minister: I believe there will be a considerable increase  in relations between France and Australia, M, Segard, the  Secretary who deals with Overseas Trade is soon to visit  Australia and he is interested, I believe, in the whole range

of matters which can come within trade between the two countries, X  \

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Question: Do y o u .envisage any cultural exchanges between the two countries?

Prime Minister: I certainly hope so. One of your  colleagues asked a question about Cultural and Scientific  Agreements between France and Australia. We are anxious  to have such Agreements. My Government has made cultural

agreements with several countries and scientific agreeÂ­ ments with some countries in the two years that we have  been in office and we were very happy indeed at the prosÂ­ pect of such agreements with France.

Question: In your discussions with M. Chirac did you discuss the development of the situation in Southern  Africa and the difference in Australia's and France's  approach to South Africa?

Prime MinisteriThis wasn't raised. ÃÂ

Question: Could you tell us what is exactly the

Australian stand on non-proliferation and what do you think  of the French stand - France not joining the Treaty but sayÂ­ ing it would comply with the clauses of the Treaty.

Prime Minister:There is a prospective conference to review  the Treaty and I believe it is in that context that these  matters may be discussed and promoted.

Question: Did you or did you ask during your

discussions with the Frencn/nluiister the firm guarantee that  French atmospheric nuclear testing in Pacific has now ended?

Prime Minister:No

Questions: Can I ask you why?

Prime Ministersi rely on public statements by the President ÃÂ   and his Ministers.

Question: Did you discuss the problem of Australia buying some aircraft from France?

Prime Minister:Yes. There is active consideration being given  to the purchase of further aircraft for Australia's domestic  airlines and there is competition in particular between the  Tristar and the Airbus and it is a very difficult decision for  us to make. The domestic airlines which are not as confident

in Australia, any more than domestic airlines seem to be in  any other country, that there will be such an increase in  business as there was in recent years, are not really urging  the acquisition of these aircraft as much now as they were

several months ago. Therefore the whole question is not as  urgent at the moment as it was say in the middle of 1974 but  it's very difficult to make up our minds between these two  excellent aircraft. I'm not a technical man so it might be

invidious for me to compare the qualities which appeal to us  in these matters.

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Question: Can you explain to us the Australian position on the French proposals for tripartite Energy Conference.

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Prime Ministers I said that any discussions on this matter  would take place - "any", "would" - take place after those  that have already been arranged.

Question: Are you considering reconstructing the Atomic Energy Commission in Australia along American lines by splitÂ­ ting it so as to diversify the defence aspects and the economic  energy aspects?

Prime Minister: No consideration has been given to this so far  and I won't speculate as to what may be done.

Question: Have you no worries about the powers given to

the Atomic Energy Commission under the present Act?

Prime Minister: No consideration has been given to altering those  powers,

Question: The question about the tripartite cooperation between France and between Australia and Japan in fact has been  discussed before the Labor Government came into power.

Prime Minister: Not I think with Japan had it?

Question: Yes I believe it had.

Prime Minister: Oh well I didn't know that.

Question: (unclear,,,,why are you so secretive about these discussions?)

Prime Minister: We have made arrangements for some discussions  and any further discussions would take place after the discussion  which have already been arranged. Those are the only discusÂ­ sions which have been arranged.

Question: Did you explain your views on the future of the

South Pacific region with the French leaders? What did you say  and what were their comments?

Prime Minister: This wasn't discussed yesterday or today. It  was recently discussed about a month ago when Mr Froment Meurice  was in Canberra,

Question: Could we know a bit more about what you said to

him?

Prime Minister: I'd rather you askedihe a specific question as to  attitude on any particular aspect. There again I don't believe  it appropriate for me to detail discussions which have been  tete-a-tete.

Question: What is the future of Franco/Australian relations?

Prime Minister: I believe there will be a considerable increase  in relations between France and Australia, M, Segard, the  Secretary who deals with Overseas Trade is soon to visit  Australia and he is interested, I believe, in the whole range

of matters which can come within trade between the two countries,  \

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Question: Do you envisage any cultural exchanges between the two countries?

Prime Minister: I certainly hope so. One of your  colleagues asked a question about Cultural and Scientific  Agreements between France and Australia. We are anxious  to have such Agreements. My Government has made cultural

agreements with several countries and scientific agreeÂ­ ments with some countries in the two years that we have  been in office and we were very happy indeed at the prosÂ­ pect of such agreements with France.

Question: In your discussions with M. Chirac did you discuss the development of the situation in Southern  Africa and the difference in Australia's and France's  approach to South Africa? .

Prime Minister:This wasn't raised. " ÃÂ

Question: Could you tell us what is exactly the

Australian stand on non-proliferation and what do you think  of the French stand - France not joining the Treaty but sayÂ­ ing it would comply with the clauses of the Treaty.

Prime Minister:There is a prospective conference to review  the Treaty and I believe it is in that context that these  matters may be discussed and promoted.

Question: Did you or did you ask during your

discussions with the FrenchAMihister the firm guarantee that  French atmospheric nuclear testing in Pacific has now ended?

Prime Minister:No

Questions: Can I ask you why?

Prime Minister:! rely on public statements by the PresidentÃÂ   and his Ministers.

Question: Did you discuss the problem of Australia buying some aircraft from France?

Prime Minister:Yes. There is active consideration being given  to the purchase of further aircraft for Australia's domestic  airlines and there is competition in particular between the  Tristar and the Airbus and it is a very difficult decision fox  us to make. The domestic airlines which are not as confident

in Australia, any more than domestic airlines seem to be in  any other country, that there will be such an increase in  business as there was in recent years, are not really urging  the acquisition of these aircraft as much now1as they were

several months ago. Therefore the whole question is not as  urgent at the moment as it was say in the middle of 1974 but  it's very difficult to make up our minds between these two  excellent aircraft. I'm not a technical man so it might be

invidious for me to compare the qualities which appeal to us  in these matters.

Question: Can you explain to us the Australian position on the French proposals for tripartite Energy Conference.

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Prime Minister: We are attracted to the French proposals  that there he consultations rather than confrontation  in these matters and we were very interested indeed to  hear from the Prime Minister and his colleagues the proÂ­ posals for the preliminary conference and their views as

to how soon there could be a conference itself, Australia  has however to await the agenda of the conference before  it would give further commitments to attending it, but the  general idea of having consultations is attractive to us

and I believe it has been a most valuable initiative by  the French Government,

Question: On the question of the Energy Conference would it be true to say that you are more concerned with  transportation problems than supply problems?

Prime Minister: It would be true to say that transportation  is a bigger worry for Australia than supply but it would be  quite wrong to say that supply wasn't also a worry but we  do not depend on other countries as much for supply as we  do for transportation.

Question: Do I gather that Australia has been or may

be invited to the Energy Conference (unclear)

Prime Minister: That is to the major conference?

Question: Yes

Prime Minister: I would think it's quite likely that we will  be invited to the major conference. We are not of course  invited to the preliminary one.

Question: Mr Prime Minister, were the declarations of Dr Kissinger about possible military intervention in the  Middle East discussed during your talks in Paris and if  possible what is your point of view?

Prime Minister: I don't want to comment on this. Dr Kissinger  was asked a hypothetical question and it seemed to me he was  at pains to give a very guarded answer to that question. Now  I don't believe that it helps if I elaborate on this matter or

if I speculate on it.

Question: Mr Prime Minister in your discussions with Mr Sauvagnargues,  the Foreign Minister, did the question of  Cambodia come out particularly French (unclear)

Prime Minister: There was no specific discussion with  Mr Sauvagnargues on this matter. There was obviously an  interest expressed by us in the contributions which France  can make in those territories for which over 100 years she has  had a particular interest. French contributions in that part

of the world could clearly be of great value and therefore of  great interest to us who live near it and who have had unÂ­ fortunate involvements in it.

Question: (Unclear - concerning Australian aid for Africa).

Prime Minister: Australia as a relatively developed country of  course has a very great concern for the developing countries. This was particularly true because of all the developed countries

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Australia lives closest to developing countries. North, East and West of Australia there are tens,  in fact  hundreds of millions of citizens of developing countries.  Australia for two generations has had the responsibility

for one such country which this year will become independent  and which last year became self-governing,  Papua New Guinea. So quite naturally Australia is interested and has been  involved in this question. My government recently established  an Australian Development Assistance AgencÃÂ« to specialise  in these matters. We accept the general United Nations obÂ­

jective of having 0.7 per cent of the national product deÂ­ voted to international assistance and we have already reached  over 0.6 per cent of that figure. We would in general give  more assistance to countries in our neighbourhood,  South

East Asia and the neighbouring countries in the Indian Ocean^h  and in the South Pacific than to the African countries. w This is not because we are unaware of the problems of the  African countries or unsympathetic towards 'them. They do have

a continuing association, they still command the interest of  France and Britain and in fact other European countries,  but  the sheer history and proximity means that Australia is more  involved with the countries of South East Asia and the Indian

and South Pacific Oceans. My government also stresses that  assistance can be given to developing countries not only by  aid but by trade. We probably have devoted our aid more than  most countries,  or perhaps any countries, to outright grants.

In general we do not require the repayment of advances we  make or any interest payments on those advances. We have had  a fairly elaborate system of trade assistance to the  developing countries.

Question: Are you aware of reports that the American

Seventh Fleet is off the coast of Viet-Nam in a show of  strength? If so what is your reaction to this buildup?

Prime Minister:! wasn't aware.  f

Question: I understand that in your speech yesterday at the dinner party with M. Chirac you said that Australia  did have some hesitation in the past towards a united Europe  but these reservations have now gone. I wonder if you could

tell us why the attitude of Australia has changed and in what  way a united Europe is beneficial to Australia’s interests?

Prime Minister:The big reason for the change of attitude has  been that there has been a change of government in Australia.  I'm sure that in France in particular you now recognise the  Second of December as not only the Anniversary of Austerlitz

or the coup d'etat but also of political liberation of  Australia. There have been some other incidental reasons  and that is that the pattern of trade has changed in the twel\  and a half years - perhaps a bit longer - since a British

Government, that cf Mr McMillan, formally applied to join the  European Economic Community. -

Question: (Unclear - concerning whether prospects for resuming beef sales to Europe improved in Paris)

Prime Minister:Yes,  but not for some months.

Question: When Sir, how many months?

Prime Minister: No, I wouldn't specify, I wouldn't make any particular forecasts, because we've received  different estimates in different member countries of  the community with whom we have discussed this matter.

Question: Due to the present economic situation

in Australia, do you consider you will have a raise in  tariffs for trade in the near future?

Prime Minister: Well, there may be but if there were increases in tariffs in Australia I would expect they would  be within the context of the international arrangements  that Australia has made and the legislation that the  Australian Parliament has passed. In other words it would  be, if the increases in tariffs were due to temporary

factors then the increases also would be temporary. Tariffs in Australia, in general, are lower now than they  have been for probably over forty years,  but there has been  a very great increase in imports into Australia and some

of the imports have adversely affected some Australian  industries,  so therefore we are persuading the importers  to reduce the amount of imports closer to what they were  before my Government took action which,  by tariffs and by

currency revaluations, to promote imports. Perhaps it  would be useful for me to say in this context that Australia  is a very considerable trading country. It's the twelth  largest trading country in the world. There are very few

countries where there is a larger percentage of the  national product involved in international trade than is  the case in Australia. Therefore the prosperity of  Australians depends very greatly on international trade

and it is for this reason that it is very distressing and  disheartening for Australians that some of the most  affluent countries in the world, some of the biggest trading  countries in the world, shot .VI have suddenly, without any  pretence of justification, or warning,  have cut down on

some of the exports which Australia can make, in very  economic and attractive terms, such as beef exports. The  Common Market, just cancelled Australia's beef exports. Japan just cancelled Australia's beef exports. The United

States is now pressing Australia to reduce beef exports. Now in many of these cases the countries had previously  urged us to increase beef exports. There is no question  that our beef exports are of good and dependable quality,

and very competitive price. It is very disheartening,   discouraging that affluent trading countries such as those  I 've -.mentioned, the only countries in the world, among the  few countries in the world which eat meat, among the still

smaller number of countries in the world which can afford  from time to time to import meat, should take so retrograde  and selfish a step. It is disappointing,  it is reprehensible,  I would say, that for domestic political reasons great tradÂ­ ing countries, affluent countries should set such a bad  example. Australia tries, even at the cost of some hardÂ­

ship to herself and her people, to have good trading reÂ­ lations. We would expect other countries, bigger ones in

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most cases, to be no less principled and progressive  in matters of trade.

Question: Having noted the reaction of the Shah of

Iran to the joint statement emerging from the meeting  between discard d'Estaing with President Ford, particularly  on the question of revaluation of gold reserves, do you

sympathise with the Shah of Iran on this question and what  is Australia's attitude?

Prime Minister: I don't want to make any comment at this stage on this. I'm very interested in what the Shah says  on this and many other matters. As it mightn't be generally  understood here, the Shah recently visited Australia last

September, and it was interesting to us that this visit shoi  have been regarded as appropriate by him before he made i t ,   and we have every reason to believe regarded as well worti^  while after he'd made it. ^

Question: Prime Minister, you've now been on the roa

for three weeks and it's been a fairly strenuous, as those  of us who've been travelling with you know.

Prime Minister: You're bearing up quite well.

Question: How are you feeling, Sir?

Prime Minister: Likewise.

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