No Permanent Base At Airport Planned

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31677, 13 May 1968, Page 12

No Permanent Base At Airport Planned

The United States Government was unaware of any plans toward modifying the basic agreements between New Zealand and the United States regarding the use of the facilities at Christchurch Airport by the United States Navy, said the public affairs officer for the United States Embassy in Wellington (Mr J. A. Stone). He Mid that a perusal of these agreements (of December 24, 1958, and October 18, 1960) would indicate that at no time was there envisaged any plans for a permanent facility by the United States Government at Christchurch.

Mr Stone was commenting on the letter of a correspond ent, “F.C.," who wrote to say “Owen Wilkes has expressed the doubts pf many New Zealanders about the future activities of the United States Navy base in Christchurch The facilities for Antarctic research grafted to the

United States Navy by our Government in 1958 were purely temporary. Either side could terminate the agreement ‘after the expiration of 90 days from the date on which notice is given.' This agreement appears to have been ignored by the United States Navy’s unilateral Statement of its intention to establish a permanent base here. To protect New Zealand’s sovereignty the American base should be closed down each winter—when there is little or no Antarctic dying—and maintained operationally by R.N.Z.A.F. and Civil Aviation Department authorities.

“Among other essential safeguards, this would prevent a substantial part of Christ'■hurch Airport from becoming exclusively American property—a take-over which would seriously compromise the freedom and independence of every New Zealander.”