Calwell Accuses Johnson

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31230, 30 November 1966, Page 17

Calwell Accuses Johnson

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) MELBOURNE, November 29.

The Federal Labour Opposition leader, Mr Arthur Calwell, today accused President Johnson of patronage and arrogance.

He was referring to a congratulatory cable the United States President sent yesterday to the Prime Minister (Mr Harold Holt) on his 'election victory. In a prepared press statement Mr Calwell said:

“At no time in our history has any British Prime Minister or any President of the United States ever offered congratulations or criticisms following any Federal election in Australia.

“Neither has any Australian Prime Minister ever sent a

congratulatory message to a successful or defeated candidate in an American Presidential election.

“The British Prime Ministers have behaved with equal propriety.

“But President Johnson has seen fit to intrude into Australian politics. “This is bad enough, but the tenor of his remarks reduces the importance of Australia to that of a protected power and not an independent nation.

“It lowers the importance of the Australian Prime Ministership to that of a State governorship in the United States. SATURDAY’S VOTE

“As an Australian, I resent the patronage, the interference and the arrogance with which the message reeks.

“I would like to believe that the decision of the Australian electors on Saturday last was made in what they thought was Australia’s best interests and was not a decision to encourage President Johnson to believe that Australia has become, or is well on the way to becoming, a satellite territory of the United States.”