Fix this text
SPEECH BY PRIME MINISTER
Fix this text21st January 60
Fix this textFarewell dinner to G-.Gr.
Fix this text(Sir William Slim).
Fix this textSPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE RT. HON. R.G.
Fix this textMENZIES AT FAREWELL DINNER TO 'THE GOVERNOR-
Fix this textGENERAL. SIR WILLIAM SLIM ON 21 ST JANU ARY.I960
Fix this textYour Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen:
Fix this textThis is really quite a remarkable night. We have here
Fix this textcarrent members of Parliament, current Ministers - though that,
Fix this textperhaps, is a terrible term to apply to a Minister, - judges, Sir
Fix this textArthur Fadden (Applause) than whom nobody has a better right to
Fix this textbe here. We are all delighted to see him among us.
Fix this textThis is really a spectacular occasion, because it is a
Fix this textdinner in honour of a very great man (Applause) universally
Fix this textrespected and admired, and of a very great lady (Applause)andl can
Fix this textsay of her with no hesitation whatever, very greatly loved.
Fix this text(Applause). I can say that about Her Excellency because she will
Fix this textnot go through more than the form of protest, I could hardly have
Fix this texttold His Excellency that ho was very greatly loved, because his
Fix this textchin probably would have jutted out an extra bit and destroyed
Fix this textthe microphone (Laughter). But if it were not for that simple,
Fix this textsingle, physical circumstance I would tell him that I don't know
Fix this textof two people who, in somewhere between six and seven years, have
Fix this textlaid a greater hold on the affection and regard of the people of
Fix this textAustralia (Applause),
Fix this textI think, and I am sure that my friend the distinguished
Fix this textLeader of the Opposition,who is going to support me, will agree
Fix this textit is a rather fortunate circumstance that Field Marshall Sir
Fix this textWilliam Slim came to Australia as Governor-General and not as an
Fix this textendorsed candidate for Parliament. (Laughter) Well you may
Fix this textdisagree with me because unquestionably- if that had happened, I
Fix this textwould now be the former Prime Minister (laughter) and that of
Fix this textcourse might have something to recommend it. At least I believe
Fix this textthat there is some disposition in uninformed quarters (Laughter)
Fix this textto think that that might be so.
Fix this textBut our Governor-General came out here as the personal
Fix this textrepresentative of our sovereign lady, the Queen. He was greatly
Fix this textapproved of by her, greatly approved of by the people of Australia
Fix this textand is a famous soldier whose name in military history will
Fix this textendure as long as military history (Applause) and a very great
Fix this textthinker. In fact - if he doesn't mind me saying so on the side -
Fix this texta man who thinks so clearly that he frequently makes me feel most
Fix this textuncomfortable (^aughter). A magnificent writer. Everybody in
Fix this textAustralia who has had enough good sense to read “Defeat into
Fix this textVictory" knows that this is one of the great military writers of
Fix this textcenturies (Applause) and those others of you who have had the
Fix this textgreat good sense to read his recent collection of stories "Unofficial
Fix this textHistory" will agree with me that he has something so superb in him
Fix this textas a writer, as a narrator of events, as a good, rich, robust
Fix this texthuman being, full of experience, full of knowledge of men, that it
Fix this textis a tremendous pleasure for us to have had him in Australia.
Fix this text(Applause)
Fix this textĄnd, of course, so that I won't make it appear that the
Fix this textretiring Governor-General is a sort of Inhuman paragon - one of
Fix this textthose people compact of all the virtues, but unapproachable - I
Fix this textwould like to add that I don't know of anybody who, in the same
Fix this textperiod of time in Australia, has established a greater feeling
Fix this textamong people that he is a human being who understands how human
Fix this textbeings think. (Applause) I would, on your behalf, invite His
Fix this textExcellency when he repairs to London and presents himself to Her
Fix this textMajesty the Queen, to say two things to her. One, he will be
Fix this textvery willing to say; the other he will be reluctant to say. The
Fix this textfirst that he will be willing to say will be that he comes back
Fix this textto London bearing with him the unstinted love and homage of the
Fix this textpeople of Australia (Applause) and the second thing that he will
Fix this textbe a little reluctant to say is that he comes back o London - in
Fix this textfact I'm sure he won't say it - to the presence of Her Majesty
Fix this textIt's easy and takes two shakes of a lamb's tail!
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