GPS 280
UNCLASSIFIED
FM CANBERRA 178416Z JAN 79
KMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 40 OF 17 JANUARY
НКК
HKCK 184/1.
AND INFO SINGAPORE (PLEASE PASS TO ROGERS),
MANILA, HONG KONG (GOVERNOR AND BCARPE
WR MY TEL NO 33: UK/AUSTRALIA AIR SERVICES
LAN NGO
MPUR, BANGKOK,
1. THE MAIN HEADLINE IN TODAY'S 'THE AUSTRALIAN' IS QUOTE SINGAPORE THREAT TO HURT AUSTRALIA UNQUOTE AND THE STORY QUOTES FROM SINGAPOREAN MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS REPORTED IN SINGAPORE TEL TO YOU NO 29. ROGERS' TALKS NEXT WEEK ARE ALSO GIVEN PROMINENCE. THE INCLUSION OF A LAKER REPRESENTATIVE IS MENTIONED, THIS QUOTE HAS INCREASED SPECULATION THAT (LAKER) STILL HAS AN OUTSIDE CHANCE OF BREAKING INTO THE AUSTRALIAN MARKET UNQUOTE. THE STORY INACCURATELY REPORTS THE BRITISH ATTITUDE AS BEING QUOTE CONCERNED THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MAY BUCKLE UNDER POLITICAL PRESSURE AND ALLOW ASEAN AIRLINES ACCESS TO THE LONDON ROUTE FROM AUSTRALIA UNQUOTE AND THAT QUOTE MR NIXON MAY NEGOTIATE A VERY LOW FARE TO ASEAN MEMBERS
UNQUOTE, THUS DAMAGINGLY DILUTING TRAFFIC ON THE KANGAROO ROUTE. 'THE AUSTRALIAN ALSO HAD ITS, BY NOW, DAILY A
LEADER ON THE SUBJECT.
3 $ ** * *
2. ON THE ABC RADIO THIS MORNING MR WHITLAM ADDED HIS VOICE TO THOSE CRITICISING MR NIXON FOR THE ALLEGED HARM HE IS DOING TO AUSTRALIA/ASEAN RELATIONS. THE ABC DESCRIBED ROGERS' PURPOSE
AS BEING QUOTE RE-NEGOTIATION UNQUOTE OF THE CHEAP FARES
AGREEMENT.
3. THE PRESS EITHER HAVE NOT GRASPED OR FAIL TO ACKNOWLEDGE, THE
EMPHASIS IN MR NIXON'S STATEMENT OF 22 DECEMBER ON THE BILATERAL
NEGOTIATIONS WHICH THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT WILL BE PURSUING WITH ASEAN COUNTRIES AND THE FACT THAT LAST WEEK'S ASEAN/AUSTRALIA MEETING WAS NOT, AND WAS NOT INTENDED TO BE, A NEGOTIATION. 4. PLAINLY THE PRESS WILL BE TAKING MUCH MORE INTEREST IN
ROGERS' TALKS NEXT WEEK THAN ON PREVIOUS OCCASIONS.
5. SINCE DRAFTING THE ABOVE WE HAVE HEARD ON THE LATER ABC NEWS REPORT THAT SIR F. LAKER HIMSELF IS COMING NEXT WEEK.
GRATEFUL FOR INFORMATION AND EXPECTED DATES.
TEBBIT
FILES
MAED
SPD
it K J G D SEAD
NEWS D
[COPIES SENT TO CADI DOT]
MR BUTLER MR CORTAZZI MISS BROWN
MRMURRAY