Hitch in French protest plans

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33263, 28 June 1973, Page 16

Hitch in French protest plans

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, June 27.

Four Frenchmen protesting against their country’s nuclear policy left Auckland by air tonight on their way, they hope, to the testing zone in the Pacific. But they might not get any further than Rarotonga.

Shortly before their departure from Auckland Airport for Rarotonga by way

of Nandi and Pagopago, the Peace Media co-ordinator, Mr H. P. B. Mitcalfe, said that there had been a last-minute hitch. The Frenchmen were to have sailed from Rarotonga to the fringe of the test area near Mururoa Atoll in the [lslands trader Manuvai, which has been chartered by the Peace Media organisation.

There, the Manuvai was to rendezvous with the protest yacht Fri. The Frenchmen were to join the Fri and muchneeded supplies would be transferred from the Manuvai.

But the Manuvai might not make the voyage. Mr Mitcalfe said the Cook Islands Government had been talking about needing the Manuvai for the citrus trade. He thought the reason for this might be political. The ship was required for only six days and it would be incredible if the voyage iwas delayed by political considerations, he said. [ The Fri is reported to be running seriously short of provisions.

Mr Mitcalfe said the crew were living on bread, baked beans, and two or three cups of water a day. They were beginning to show signs of vitamin deficiency. The news of a possible break-down in arrangements came as a disappointment to the four Frenchmen, a wartime Resistance hero, Briga-dier-General J. de Bollardiere; a Roman Catholic priest, the Rev. J. Toulat, and Messrs J. Muller and B. Lalonde. General Bollardiere said he was still willing to drop into the testing zone by parachute but the problem was lack of a long-range aircraft. The Frenchmen have been joined on the trip by a retired marine engineer, Mr H. Munro, aged 65, of Westmere. who will replace a member of the Fri’s crew who is returning home to New Zealand.