Defence policy reviewed

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33052, 20 October 1972, Page 2

Defence policy reviewed

(Frqm Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, October 19.

Emphasis on the changed circumstances of the last few years, and the fact that there is no threat of major hostilities, are the main themes of the review of defence policy tabled in Parliament this afternoon by the Minister of Defence (Mr McCready).

The document is notably different from the White Papers of 1963 and 1966, when New Zealand troops were actively employed in Malaysia and Vietnam with a strong possibility of a heavier involvement. The 1972 paper gives no hard facts on expenditure or hard-line policy, but charts the likely course of defence investigation over the next decade. It makes the following points:

There is no substitute for the present system of collective security; New Zealand cannot afford to relax its defence effort any further; Although the present forces are regarded as being

cut to a minimum, there may be adjustments in emphasis, related to the efficiency of New Zealand forces co-operating with other nations; The shape of New Zealand forces in the 1980 s and beyond will depend on the outcome of detailed studies now being made; Co-operation between Australia and New Zealand is likely to be still closer than at present, although there is no likelihood of the two nations establishing a unified group of armed services. "Defence policy cannot be divorced from a country’s broader national aims, and cannot be considered separately from the foreign policy through which those aims are pursued internationally,” the White Paper comments. Risk seen

It is admitted that New Zealand cannot hope to achieve any large measure of self-reliance in defence—but the White Paper suggests that this country should try to diminish its dependence on others. The point is made that though closer linkage with Australia is important, there could come a time when the attitudes of the two countries over a single international situation might differ. The A.N.Z.U.S. Pact is regarded as the keystone of New Zealand’s security. The White Paper also mentions the 1944 Canberra Pact

between Australia and New Zealand, which envisaged a much closer collaboration between the two countries, and comments: “It is now becoming apparent that recent changes in their common strategic environment have made further moves in that direction more desirable and indeed, more pressing to both partners.” Regional system The paper sees few prospects of a comprehensive regional security system in South-East Asia and the south-west Pacific in the near future. It emphasises a need for a flexible approach, and for bilateral agreements with certain key countries. Of New Zealand’s present deployable forces, it says they are in reasonable balance "though of minimum size to support the defence policy objectives set out in this paper, and to ensure professional standards and competence in operation.”