Govt. Opposed To Protest Plan

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30485, 6 July 1964, Page 17

Govt. Opposed To Protest Plan

(New Zealand Prese Association) WELLINGTON July 5. “I am at a loss to see what useful purpose could be achieved by this venture,” said the acting Minister of External Affairs (Mr Hanan) commenting on reports of a meeting held in Auckland where plans were made to sail a small boat into the area of the proposed French nuclear tests.

Mr Hanan said it was an unwarranted assumption that because the Government had protested vigorously against the projected tests it would be sympathetic towards such plans. “I can say, most categorically, that it is not,” said Mr Hanan.

' “This follows from the position stated last year by the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) when he said that the Government did not look with favour upon direct action by particular sections of the community on matters connected with New Zealand’s external relations. •

“Thi New Zealand. Government made the strongest representations to the French Government against its decision to carry out nuclear tests in the Pacific. We are still hopeful that this decision can be reversed and we shall continue to take every oppor-

i tunity to exercise all the powers of persuasion which can be. brought to bear,” Mr Hanan said. Respected He said he respected the tide of good moral feelings which set the project afloat but asked what it was hoped to achieve. “They are surely not so naive as to thing their action would be allowed to affect the course of the tests if the. French Government had not been influenced by the international factors involved,” he said.

Mr Hanan asked if they really believed international opinion would not be already fully alerted by the time the tests are due to take place. “I wonder if they appreciate that their action could posibly jeopardise the standing of the New Zealand Government as one approaching this problem in a serious and responsible manner,” said Mr Hanan.