“High Sense Of Purpose” In French Test Protest

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30487, 8 July 1964, Page 5

“High Sense Of Purpose” In French Test Protest

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, July 7. Dr. J. F. Northey, professor of public law at the University of Auckland, today described plans by the committee for resolute action against the French tests to sail a small boat into the area of the tests as “representing a genuine reaction by the ordinary man in the street to a serious situation.”

Referring to “scathing criticism of the plans” by the Minister of Justice (Mr

Hanan), Professor Northey said: “I personally, would not describe such plans as irresponsible. Knowing some, of the members of the committee, I would say the plans were motivated by a high sense of purpose. The Nuremberg trials after the war indictated that the individual, as distinct from his government, has certain duties requiring him to act apart from his government in certain circum-stances.-If he has such higher duties, it is logical to argue that he also has such rights.” Professor Northey said that if the French Government limited the freedom of movement of any vessel in the high seas, it would be breaking the terms of the 1958 Geneva Agreement, which restated the freedom of the high seas. Other states, including the United States, had created “danger zones” in the past, to enable them to carry out weapons tests, but this was when there was such testing on both sides of the Iron Curtain, when no test ban treaty had been signed, and when world opinion had not obviously swung against such activities.

“Agreements that modify the freedom of the high seas within limited areas, have sometimes been reached between states over such issues as whaling. In their dealings with each other, all states have recognised the principle of the freedom of the high seas,” he said. Dr. Northey’s son, Mr Richard Northey, is the chairman of the Auckland branch of the project