[Typed message attached to a backing page with the header: 'DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS.', 'INWARD TELEPRINTER MESSAGE.']

MESSAGE NUMBER 2594 16.20. 8.9.53

TO:- BLAKENEY, EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, CANBERRA.

FROM:- GOSS, EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, MELBOURNE.

URGEN [sic]

MESSAGE NUMBER 2594 16.20. 8.9.53

TO: - BLAKENEY, EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, CANBERRA.

FROM:- GOSS, EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, MELBOURNE.

URGENT

[dividing line.]

THE MANAGER OF THE VISITING HONG KONG CHINESE SOCCER TEAM MR CHANNING SPOKE IN SYDNEY TODAY ABOUT THE TEAMS [sic] TOUR OF AUSTRALIA.

HE SAID IT HAD GIVEN THE PLAYERS A NEW OUTLOOK AND A NEW BELIEF IN DEMOCRACY.

THE TEAM LEFT SYDNEY TODAY FOR HONG KONG.

MR CHANNING SAID "WE [handwritten addition: 'the team had'. End addition.] HEARD MUCH ABOUT

THE [word inserted: 'so-called'] WHITE AUSTRALIA POLICY BEFORE WE CAME TO AUSTRALIA

"INSTEAD WE FOULD A COMPLETE LACK OF DISCRIMINATION OF ANY KIND.

"WE WERE TREATED AS EQUALS AND AMAZED AT THE SIMPLE COURTISIES [sic] EVEN ON BUSES AND IN SHOPS.

"THE ATTITUDE OF THE PEOPLE AND CONDITIONS GENERALLY WERE GREATLY DIFFERENT FROM THOSE THE PLAYERS KNOW AT HOME".

MR CHANNING WENT ON TO SAY THAT MOST ASIAN PEOPLE REGARDED THE WHITE AUSTRALIA POLICY [handwritten addition: 'Australian immigration policy'. End addition.] AS A BARRIER OF PERSONAL ANTAGONISM RATHER THAN WHAT TI [sic] ACTUALLY WAS – A PURELY PROTECTIVE ARTIFICIAL BARRIER.

HE SAID THE TRUTH SHOULD BE PRESENTED TO THEM.

ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO CDO [sic] THIS WAS TO EXCHANGE SPORTING [letters crossed out] TEAMS BETWEEN AUSTRALIA INDIA PAKISTAN [letters crossed out] MALAYA AND OTHER ASIAN COUNTRIES BECAUSE SPORT WAS OF THE BEST AMBASSADORS FOR GOOD WILL.

[Line crossed out.]

THE FORE GOING IS SUBSTANTIALLY WHAT THE SECRETARY HEARD AT ONE-THIRTY. RADIO AUSTRALIA PROPOSE TO BROADCAST IT IN THE FORM IN WHICH YOU NOW HAVE IT.

MESSAGE ENDS NMB 16.39.

[Handwritten annotations added to top right corner of the page:]

[Handwritten in black ink:] 8/9 Seen N

[Handwritten in blue ink:]

The Secretary.

I have asked Goss to make the changes marked in ink – if possible – for the Radio Australia service.

In this amended form I think it could well go to all Asian posts & some others – including New York.

[Word illegible] is mentioning to the press boys.

B 8/9