(EDWARD) GOUGH WHITLAM

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06589350
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: March 9, 2023
• Document Release Date: April 29, 2021
• Case Number: F-2020-01824
• Publication Date: June 19, 1974

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(Edward) Gough WHITLAM
Prime Mrnister
Gough (rhymes with
cough) Whitlam became
Prime Minister of Aus-
tralia in December 1972,
when he led the Austra-
lian Labor Party (ALP)
to its first victory
in federal elections in
almost a quarter of a
century. He has been
parliamentary leader of
the party since 1967.
Whitlam served concur-
rently as Foreign Affairs
Minister until November
1973, when he relin-
quished the portfolio to Senator
Donald Willesee
In May 1974 Parliamentary opposition forced
Whitlam to dissolve both Houses of Parliament and
call for general elections, in which the ALP won
by an extremely narrow margin. The party caucus
met on 10 June and reelected Whitlam as ALP leader
and, therefore, as Prime Minister. Despite Whitlam's
strong support for incumbent deputy party leader
and Deputy Prime Minister Lance Barnard, however,
the caucus selected the leftist James Cairns to
replace Barnard. Most of the rest of the Cabinet
remained the same.
The ALP caucus vote represented a leftward
shift in the party, but the
vote was less an expression of a left-right split
than a demonstration of general dissatisfaction
These internal strains,
together with the closeness of the ALP's margin
of victory in the May elections, are likely to
affect the operating style of both Whitlam and
his government.
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(Edward) Gough WHITLAM
Policy Directions During 1973
Under Whitlam's leadership, Australia has turned
toward a more independent stance and away from what
he describes as the "fawning attitudes" of previous
governments toward the United States and the United
Kingdom. His essentially nationalistic desire
to tout Australia as a "robust medium-sized power
beholden to no larger powers" plays a large part
in his policy decisions. He identifies Australia
with the nonaligned and the less developed countries,
particularly in Africa, an attitude that seemingly
reflects his government's more tolerant attitude
toward non-white nations. He has become increasingly
involved in improving relations with the People's
Republic of China (PRC), though he denies allega-
tions that Australia will become China's advocate
in Southeast Asia.
Decisions from the Prime
Minister's Office
Shortly after being sworn in as Prime Minister,
Whitlam announced the establishment of diplomatic
relations with the PRC, recalled Australia's Ambas-
sador to Taiwan and closed the Embassy there. He
has established Embassies in East Germany, North
Vietnam, the Vatican and several African nations and
is expected to announce diplomatic relations with
North Korea during 1974. Whitlam has banned South
African sports teams from Australia and closed the
Rhodesian Information Center.
Interest in Regional Groups
Whitlam supports Southeast Asian regional bodies
that are organized to promote peace and prosperity
in the area. He is interested in forming a regional
forum that would embrace all of the states from Iran
to Korea, including the PRC. He regards China and
India as the real center of gravity in Asia rather
than the smaller East Asian countries to which Aus-
tralia has been close. He nevertheless recognizes
the economic importance of Japan and the security
that Indonesia provides as a buffer between Australia
and Communist forces.
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(Edward) Gough WHITLAM
Defense Posture
One of Whitlam's first official acts was to
eliminate military conscription and to free all
draft resisters. He has withdrawn combat troops
from Vietnam and announced plans to recall those
troops stationed in Singapore under the umbrella of
the Five-Power Defense Arrangement (Australia, New
Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia and the United Kingdom).
Whitlam seems determined that Australia will no
longer participate in SEATO-sponsored military
exercises but will continue to maintain a low
profile aimed at social and economic development.
Attitude Toward the United States
Whitlam considers himself a good friend of this
country. He asserts firm support for ANZUS, partly
because he recognizes the ultimate necessity of the
US security umbrella but also because the Australian
public sets great store by the American alliance.
He has praised the constructive achievements of
President Nixon and Dr. Henry Kissinger but does
not hesitate to voice scathing criticisms of US
policies. He publicly denounced the renewed bomb-
ings of North Vietnam in December 1972 and sent a
very critical letter to President Nixon. On a later
occasion he expressed the view that the US military
alert called in November 1973 during the Middle East
crisis was for US domestic purposes; two weeks later,
however, he acknowledged from information he had
received that it had been justified.
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(b)(3)
(Edward) Gough WHITLAM
Early Life and Legal Career
(Edward) Gough Whitlam was born on 11 July 1916
in Kew, a suburb of Melbourne. His father, the late
H.R.E. Whitlam, was Commonwealth crown solicitor, a
senior post in the Attorney General's Department,
from 1936 to 1948. Young Whitlam attended St. Paul's
College at the University of Sydney, where he earned
B.A. and LL.B. degrees. Like most college students,
he developed many interests but did not concentrate
on any single one.
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
While (b)(1)
serving in the Royal Australian Air Force during (b)(3)
World War II, he became interested in Labor's poli-
cies. He was elected to Parliament in 1952 to repre-
sent the industrial suburb of Werriwa.
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(b)(3)
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(Edward) Gough WHITLAM
ALP Career
Overcoming the distrust of the class-conscious
old guard of the ALP of those from a middle-class
background, Whitlam was elected deputy leader of the
parliamentary party in 1960. Seven years later he
assumed the leadership position, following the party's
disastrous defeat in the federal elections in 1966.
As leader of a party with an isolationist and pro-
Communist image, Whitlam determined to reform its
policies.
His proposals
to provide wider representation in the federal execu-
tive were ignored, however. In early 1968, when the
ALP once again found itself seriously split between
the right wing and the Communist-influenced left
wing, Whitlam resigned as leader in an
attempt to prove his strength in the federal parlia-
mentary caucus. He was reelected as ALP leader, but
he was returned
than when initially
with a slimmer margin of support
elected in 1967.
Whitlam solidified his position as undisputed
leader of the party prior to the general elections
in October 1969 After he guided his party to a
near victory in the elections, the ALP federal par-
liamentary caucus unanimously reelected him its
leader. By 1970 the party was no longer split into
hardline left- and right-wing groups. The majoiity
of its members were in the center, and they were
loudly vocal in protesting against factionalism.
Whitlam must continue to nod to the ALP's left wing,
but he clearly dominates his party.
Travel
During his parliamentary career, Whitlam has
traveled throughout the world. He has visited the
United States on several occasions: as a Foreign
Leader Grantee in 1964; as a leader of the opposi-
tion, to meet with senior government and Congres-
sional leaders; and, as Prime Minister, to meet
with President Nixon in 1973.
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(Edward) Gough WHITLAM
During his first year as Prime Minister, Whitlam
visited almost all of the Asian countries, including
the PRC, and traveled to Mexico, Canada and several
Western European countries.
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CIA/DDI/CRS
�7
-
19 June 1974
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