MR KIRK ON VIETNAM: “Talk Of Peace And Plans To Escalate”

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31256, 31 December 1966, Page 3

MR KIRK ON VIETNAM: “Talk Of Peace And Plans To Escalate”

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, December 30. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr Kirk, said today that although the talk was for peace in Vietnam, everybody seemed to be “covertly planning to escalate the violence.” In his New Year message, he said: “Each escalation moves events further away from negotiation and closer to world war.

“With the best will in the world, we can move no nearer peace when civilians are the targets for injury and destruction.” Mr Kirk said 1967 would almost certainly call for changes in external affairs policy.

“New Zealand’s outlook should be coloured at all times by the certainty that peace is a goal that we must strive and plan for as deter-

minably as we would prepare for defence.” Mr Kirk said New Zealand had a duty both within the Commonwealth and the United Nations to do its utmost to promote peaceful solutions to international disputes. “Nowhere is this more important than in Vietnam,” he said. “Though the talk is for peace, everyone seems to be covertly planning to escalate the violence. “Surely it is not beyond the great powers to end this tragic situation, nor beyond the duty of the smaller countries to press for its resolution.” Chinese Tests Mr Kirk said further nuclear testing by China was to be deplored in the strongest terms.

“Such tests are a brooding malignancy that underline the greater menace inherent in an escalating Vietnamese situation,” he said. “In these circumstances, the sooner China joins the world community as a member state of the United Nations and becomes subject to the disciplines of that body and takes part in the United Nations works and debate, the sooner there will be a move toward reducing tension.” Development Aid Mr Kirk emphasised that the growing gap between the affluent and developing nations was of importance to New Zealand. “There is a great and continuing need for more constructive aid in the South Pacific and South-east Asia,” he said. “In these areas New Zealand has a distinct duty. “Though the aid now extended is a useful contribution, there is a great need for New Zealand to play a much more adequate part.”