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PRIME MINISTER

FOR MEDIA ^  .  January 13, 1980

ELECTORATE TALK .

The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan is a grave threat to the .  maintenance of world peace. '

Not only has the invasion presented a sharp challenge to the . United States, but it has had a profoundly destabilising effect  extending far beyond Afghanistan and its immediate neighbours.

It is important that we all have a clear perception of the .   implications of Soviet actions in Afghanistan.

Large Soviet forces have invaded a small,  non-aligned, independent i   country.

The action taken against Afghanistan is similar to that taken  against Hungary and Czechoslovakia in earlier years.  On this . occasion, however, the Soviet Union has moved outside the  Iron Curtain bloc - accepted since the War as the Soviet sphere  of influence. .

We reject totally the Soviet claim that they were invited into  Afghanistan by the former government in order to protect that  country from external threat. -  . Â·  >  .

It is a spurious claim. '

The man who was a pro-Soviet leader of Afghanistan before the  invasion was killed after Soviet forces had control of the capital  city of Kabul.

The new 'leader' of Afghanistan was brought into the country by  Soviet officials severals days after Soviet control was established.

He and his so-called 1  government1  are clearly Soviet puppets.

The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.threatens world peace because  of the. strategic importance and volatility of the area. Â·

The bordering nations of Iran and Pakistan - already not without Ã¢ÂÂ    their problems - have reason to fear for their security.

The next Soviet objective could well be designed to give it access  to the Persian Gulf and the. Arabian Sea. .

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With that access, the Soviet Union could assert control over much  of the world's oil supplies and a new dominance in the Indian Ocean.

Who can doubt that that is their next objective?

The consequences of any such Soviet action would be intolerable  for the entire world. .  :  __

It would threaten the security of all countries and fundamentally  alter the strategic balance to the disadvantage of the United States,3   and its friends, including Australia.

That is why we have decided that Australia must respond strongly  and give a lead to others in our own area.

We need to make it clear that Soviet action in Afghanistan represents  a serious threat to stability and peace and that the international .   community should not allow any extension or repetition .of such, behaviour  without the Soviet Union paying a high price.

It must also be understood that the Soviet Union has. lent its  support to other destabilising action as well.

There can be no doubt that Vietnam would not have moved into  Kampuchea without Soviet support. .

The Soviet Union sees Vietnam as promoting Soviet interests in ' South East Asia and thus it supports the continuing presence of  Vietnamese forces in Kampuchea.

In Southern Africa, the Soviet Union has long encouraged the deepening  and prolongation of instability and war. .  ,  .

And now when peace is so near at hand in Rhodesia, as the country  moves towards legal independence and genuine majority rule, it is  clear that the Soviet Union does not find, events there to its liking.

When the Soviet Ambassador called on me at "Nareen" last week, he  could not or would not answer questions as to why the Soviet Union  was not supporting the arrangements,  agreed to by all parties, .   which hold out the best hope of movement towards peace In

Southern Africa for more than a decade.

Despite the hopes of former years, Soviet behaviour internationally  is: clearly unacceptable and the Government has.  acted to demonstrate  its concern and its opposition. .

We. have offered to consult with. the. United- States concerning an  Increased Australian contribution to security in the Indian Ocean area

We have supported United States action on wheat sales, by agreeing  .hot to replace the 17 million tonnes of grain which the US had "   intended to sell to the USSR during 1979/80 although, our normal  sales to the Soviet Union will continue-

We have withdrawn approvals for two fishing projects off the  Western Australian and Tasmanian coasts.

We are. reviewing Soviet shipping operations' in Australia, and no  further approvals will be granted for Soviet research vessels to  visit our ports. .../3

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Scientific collaboration with, the Soviet Union is suspended as  are all official talks and visits and no new programmes under the  Cultural Programme will be entered into.

President Carter's announcement last weekend of the US reaction to  the Soviet invasion sought the co-operation of other nations in '   imposing sanctions on the Soviet Union. .

Australia's response has been prompt.

In fact we have been one of the first Western nations to take such  firm action.

It was important for us to act to let the United States know that  it is not alone in the. major burdens and obligation it has as  chief defender of the faith, of the free world..  .

Our action has already been warmly received. President Carter  has written to me thanking Australia for our .  steadfast support  and assistance.

It was,  the President said, an invaluable part of the joint effort  of the Western Alliance in this most difficult situation. .

We realise that the weight that Australia - a nation of 14 million -  can throw into the scales is limited. Ã¢ÂÂ   .

But it is of vital importance that we do all we can to support the  United States, Britain and Canada - indeed all nations that respect,  the principles of international law - in opposition to the Soviet  action in Afghanistan.

I am delighted to see that the Canadian Prime Minister announced  yesterday a range of measures against.the Soviet Union which  are broadly parallel to those which, we have taken.

It may well be that the Soviet troops will stay in Afghanistan ,   despite what, the United States and other like-minded countries, do.

But collectively we need to make the. price of their, action so high  that it will never again be repeated. .

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