Visits by Ministers centre on Europe

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 38186, 28 March 1973, Page 24

Visits by Ministers centre on Europe

I From

MICHAEL ROBSON,

N.Z.PA. staff correspondent)

LONDON, Mardi 27. The change in New Zealand’s European focus is dramatically illustrated by the visits next month of the i first three Ministers to come to Britain since the Labour Party took office al the end of last year.

Although the Deputy Prime Minister (.Mr Watt), the .Minister of Agriculture (Mr .Moyle), and the .Minister of Overseas Trade (.Mr Maiding) will all call at London, the primary purpose for each trip lies elsew here in Europe. Mr Watt’s mam mission is to have talks in Paris with the French over nuclear test-i ing. and Mr Moyle will at-' tend a Ministerial meeting of I the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development in the same city Mr Walding’s most im ! portant appointments will be: in Brussels where he will hold discussions with members of the E.E.C. Commission. Just who Mr Watt will! see in Paris is still not clear | The new French Cabinet is; expected to be announced within the next few days but so far no clear-cut favourite for the post of Foreign Min-i ister. to replace Mr Schumann has emerged. It seems that the Prime Minister’s office, for the meantime, will remain in the hands of Mr Messmer, and Mr Watt might meet with; him while in Paris from April 22 to 29. What message? There is also considerable speculation over the mes-; sage the French will have fot I Mr Watt. Observers in Paris con-i sider there are two possible! lines the discussions mat take. On one hand, the French may tell Mr Watt they have decided to cancel this year's tests and transfer the whole operation tin derground. In return, they might ask for New Zealand, support in the South Pacific Commission and United Na-i tions to quieten any inde-i pendence moves in French: colonial territories in the The other possibility is that the French will reassure Mr Watt that this is defin itely the last atmospheric test. As a quid pro quo for a muting of New Zealand protests on this one occasion, France might offer to adopt a “helpful” attitude when the review of New Zealand's special arrangement for dairy products comes up in 1975. There is general agreement among observers, however, that France is now genuinely concerned about the harm being done to French relations with Australia and New Zealand because of the tests, and has a desire to come to some acceptable compromise. While in London from April 2 to 6. Mr Watt will

have meetings with the! Secretary of foreign Affairs; (Sir Alec Douglas-Home) and one of his Ministers of State (Mr Amery), the Secretary of the Environment (Mr ! Rippon), the Secretary of I Employment (Mr MacMillan). I the Leader of the Opposition ; (Mr Wilson), and the general: secretary of the Trades Union Congress (Mr Vic Feather). Mr Moyle’s appearance at! the O.E.C.D. meeting on! April 12 will mark a further; iinvolvement of New Zealand: I in this international group! which has been called a “rich, nations’ club.” Membership likely New Zealand is still not' a full member but should be one before the end of the; year, as the final stages of I an official application are I underway. The full mem-: ibership of the O.E.C.D. will! (have to give its approval but: ■in view of the extensive: negotiation which goes on beforehand, there is little; doubt that this will be forth-' j coming. Mr Moyle will have threel days in London before going; to Paris and is expected to have talks with the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Godber), and also launch the Apple I and Pear Board’s 1973! season. After Paris, Mr| Moyle will have meetings in Bonn with West German agriculture officials. I

Mr Walding’s talks in Brus-i | seis will be of big import-; ance. There is a feeling in J some circles in Britain that the Government might have left the E.E.C garden unbended for too long, and that I consultations are urgent'v needed. It is thought that Mr Walding will see the president of ,the commission (Mr Ortolil and the Commissioner ot Agriculture (Mr Lardinois). Topics on the agenda will certainly include the difficulties caused by the Common Market’s butter surplus, *b<> disturbing drop in British consumption, and the application of the non-frustration clause of the New Zealand arrangement. Mr Walding might also well look into the possibility of increasing the strength of I the New Zealand mission to [the E.E.C.. which is presently, in spite of the recent addition of another senior secretaray from the Ministry of 'Foreign Affairs severely : pressed to handle the increased workload since British entry. Mr Walding will have talks in London with Mr Godber and the Under-Secretary of I State in the Foreign Office ! responsible for New* Zealand and also for Chinese Affairs (Mr Royle) before going to Geneva for G.A.T.T. discussions.