An eminent leader; valued friend, says President Ford

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33628, 2 September 1974, Page 3

An eminent leader; valued friend, says President Ford

(N.Z.P. A.’Reuter—Copyright) WASHINGTON, September 1. President Ford of the United States described Mr Kirk, in a message to the GovernorGeneral (Sir Denis Blundell), as an “eminent leader internationally as well as at home, and a valued friend of the United States. His statesmanship will be sorely missed.

“Norman Kirk’s humanity, sense of justice, and zeal in the pursuit of peace will inspire people everywhere long after his passing. I share with you your grief at the loss of a respected leader and a true friend,” President Ford said.

Mr Ford also sent a private message of condolence to Mrs Kirk.

The United States Secretary of State (Dr Henry Kissinger) sent a message which reads: “I want you to know how deeply saddened I am by the loss of Prime Minister Kirk. All of us shall greatly miss the energy and vision of a leader whom we much admired. He was one of America’s most valued and respected friends. I am certain, however, that the spirit and substance of his work shall endure.”

The Queen sent a message of sympathy to Mrs Kirk and to the Governor General. The British Prime Minister (Mr Wilson) expressed his sorrow at the loss of “a friend and colleague.”

He said: ‘My colleagues! and I were deeply shocked to hear of the unexpected and tragic death of Norman Kirk. “We had hoped that he would make a steady recovery and we were looking forward to welcoming him in Britain when he had done so. ‘Devoted leader’ “We have lost a friend and colleague and New Zealand has lost a devoted leader. We send you and the people of New Zealand our deepest condolences.” The Conservative Opposition Leader (Mr Edward Heath) was among those who spoke warmly of Mr Kirk’s value to the Commonwealth. Mr Heath described Mr Kirk as a good friend of Britain and a strong supporter of the Commonwealth. “Although we differed in our political views I admired his common-sense approach to world problems as well as his single-mindedness of purpose in looking after the interests of his own country. “His death at such an early age and after so short a period as Prime Minister is a great loss to the Commonwealth.” The news of Mr Kirk’s death saddened his many friends and admirers in British official and Labour Party quarters. Mr Kirk was also much respected in the Socialist International, the organisation grouping Socialist parties in 54 countries, which has its headquarters in London. ‘Outstanding’ Mr James Callaghan, the British Foreign Secretary and chairman of the Labour

Party, said Mr Kirk was a “loyal friend of this country, an outstanding leader of the New Zealand Labour Party, and a strong believer in Commonwealth ties.

“His many friends in the Labour movement in this country will deeply mourn his passing. He had great things ahead of him, had he lived.”

A British Minister would almost certainly fly to New Zealand to attend the funeral, a spokesman at 10 Downing Street said. Mr Kirk’s death made front page news in London.

Both the afternoon newspapers, the “Evening News” and the “Evening Standard” ran the story with photographs of Mr Kirk. The “Evening News” used the story on its front page and the “Evening Standard” iled page two with a report. Lord Goronwy Roberts, the British Parliamentary Under Secretary for Commonwealth and Foreign Affairs, and foreign affairs spokesman in the House of Lords, sent his sympathy, as did the Western Samoan Prime Minister (Fiame Mata’afa), who said he would come to New Zealand for Mr Kirk’s funeral. ‘Firm friend’ The Australian Prime Minister (Mr Whitlam) said that Mr Kirk’s death was a tragic loss for New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific region. “New Zealand has lost a great leader. Australia has lost a firm friend. “The Pacific and SouthEast Asian regions have lost a forceful and creative spokesman. “The cause of democratic socialism throughout the world has lost one of its greatest pillars of strength and sources of inspiration. “I have lost a dear and most highly valued friend. “We shared a common ground of political experience in good time and bad, and an identity of basic philosophy which gave a significance and value to our personal relationship quite beyond the ordinary. “We became Prime Ministers of the two Pacific partners within a week of one another and since that time have maintained the closest communications including our five meetings in Wellington, Apia, Ottawa, Canberra, and Christchurch. “In his Prime Ministership, relations between New Zealand and Australia reached an even higher level of cooperation and understanding.

“We co-operated particularly closely in our opposition to nuclear tests in the Pacific.” Mr Whitlam said that Mr Kirk had given New Zealand a position of genuine leadership in the South-West Pacific.

‘Vision’

“He did this not only by the nobility of his vision for his nation and the region but by personal qualities of integrity, compassion and sturdy common sense which earned him the confidence and affection of all who had the privilege of working with him. “On behalf of all Australians, I extend to our New Zealand partners our deepest sympathy in the grievous loss we have all suffered,” Mr Whitlam said. Mr Whitlam called for a minute’s silence at the Labour Party ball in Melbourne on Saturday night after being advised. Mr Whitlam was attending the function, billed as a “Grand Victory Ball” to mark the May General Election win, when news of Mr Kirk’s death was passed to him.

He was visibly shocked at the news. Later, he paid tribute to Mr Kirk in a brief address to those at the ball. The Australian Leader of the Opposition (Mr Snedden) described Mr Kirk as “a big, outgoing man.” Mr Snedden said Mr Kirk’s dedication had contributed to

the standard of living of the: New Zealand people. The news received promin-j ent display in Australia’s I Sunday newspapers. The “Sun-Herald,” which has the largest circulation among the Sunday tabloids, ran a story on Mr Kirk’s death and separate biography entitled, “Humble Man who Became P.M.” United States Govern-1 iment officials were shocked] by the news. ] Mr Kirk had been warmly | received in Washington when 1 he visited the United States for talks with President , Nixon and other top officials. The officials said that his ; forthright and direct manner 1 of speech and his friendship , for the United States had , made a deep impression on j all who met him. ; The United States Deputy ' Secretary of State (Mr Robert S. Ingersoll) said: “Mr ] Kirk’s sincere and energetic . efforts to promote a peaceful ; and prosperous world will be ; long remembered. Since meeting Mr Kirk early this year, I have admired the deep ; warmth and humanity which ' gave purpose to his efforts. ; The world has lost a sensi- ' tive and untiring statesman and the United States has ■ lost a most valued friend.” 1 The Prime Minister of > Singapore (Lee Kuan Yew) • sent a message which said: • “I was grieved to hear of the 1 sudden • death of Norman Kirk. He was a man of ; principle. What he said he followed up by what he did. “At the Commonwealth > conference in Ottawa last August he impressed all who f met him for the first time by ) his sincerity and his convic- , tions. His death is a loss to New Zealand and to all those s in the Commonwealth who ) knew and respected him.

“The countries of Southeast Asia, which he visited so often whilst in Opposition, have lost a good and dependable friend,” the message said.

A spokesman for the Canadian Prime Minister (Mr Trudeau) said: “The Prime Minister felt a deep sense of loss.

“There was a strong per[sonal bond between the men [ since they first met on Mr Trudeau’s Pacific rim tour in 1970. They met again at the Commonwealth conference last year and renewed their friendship.

“The Prime Minister said that Mr Kirk was a refreshing personality, and only two days ago, when he heard Mr Kirk was in hospital, he sent him a get-well message.” Canada would be represented at the funeral, the spokesman said. The Japanese Prime Minister (Mr Kakuei Tanaka) sent a telegram of condolence.

Mr Tanaka was to have had talks with Mr Kirk when the Japanese leader visited New Zealand on an overseas tour starting on October 28. France’s Minister of Foreign Affairs (Mr Jean Sauvagnargues) said in a message to the Governor-Gen-eral: “I have learned with great sadness the news of the death of Mr Kirk. In these tragic circumstances I beg you to accept my heartfelt and sincere condolences.” China’s official Hsinhua news agency reported the death without comment.

The Peking broadcast, monitored in Tokyo, said that Mr Kirk died of illness and quoted a press statement from the Prime Minister’s office.