FOR PRESS :  . ^ .

_ - 1^7 L

'\ m i n i s t e r i a l  v i s i t  ove r s e a s

Statement by the Minister for National. Development, '  Senator the Hon. W 0HÃ¢ÂÂ Spooner, MÃ¢ÂÂM.

I am going overseas to accept an invitation of the Japanese

Government to visit that country and to visit other countries Ã¢ÂÂ

mainly for the purpose of making myself familiar with overseas

trends in the use of atomic energy.

I will visit Vienna at the time of a meeting of the Board

of Governors of the International Atomic .Energy Agency.

While in Japan I propose to discuss markets there for

Australian coal.

I also intend to visit French atomic energy establishments

and uranium mining activities.

In the United Kingdom I intend to discuss atomic energy

developments and initiate further discussions with the United

Kingdom authorities, on the bi-lateral agreements on atomic energy

and radio active isotopes. The visit to the United Kingdom will

also give me an opportunity to inspect at lea.st one atomic energy

power station under construction. Ã¢ÂÂ

Ã¢ÂÂ¢  In the United States and Canada,  I will, have discussions with

atomic energy authorities, paying particular attention to the rate

of.installation of atomic power plants and the use of isotopes.

In the United Kingdom and in North America I will have

opportunities to stress the favourable opportunities in Australia

for oil exploration. .

Some time ago, Mr. Menzies received an invitation from the

Government of Japan for me to pay an official visit to the country.

The invitation was accepted, but was not availed of because I was

obliged to undergo an operation. I am very pleased that the

opportunity has now come to comply with my earlier acceptance of

the invitation.

I expect to spend a week in Japan, three weeks in the United

Kingdom and Europe, and two weeks or so in the U.S.A. and Canada,

returning to Australia around the end of July.

I w i 11 be accompanied on the visit to Japan by the Chairman

of the Joint Coal B o a r d ,  Mr. S.F. Cochran, and in the United

Kingdom and in America by the assistant Secretary of my

Department, Mr. H.W. Allen.

Canberra June 5. I960., - P.toi

