The Press WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 1975. Recognising the P.R.G. in Saigon

Press, Issue 33842, 14 May 1975, Page 16

The Press WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 1975. Recognising the P.R.G. in Saigon

New Zealand has followed Australia. Japan, France, and Malaysia in its recognition of the Provisional Revolutionary Government in South Vietnam. The Government waited until it became quite clear who was in control in Saigon: in doing so it showed the same reasoned approach which marked its handling of the problem of refugee orphans from South Vietnam. Recognition does not imply approval and fewer than half of the 500 delegates at the Labour Party’s annual conference on Monday night cheered Mr Rowling’s announcement. Nor does recognition mean an immediate resumption of diplomatic relations. New Zealand's mission in Saigon was withdrawn before the city fell. The South Vietnamese diplomats in Wellington have become political refugees: the house owned by South Vietnam in Lower Hutt might well be claimed, in due course, by the P.R.G. An early exchange of diplomatic missions would not necessarily serve New Zealand’s interests, even if the regime in Saigon agreed to the exchange. At most, a diplomatic post might give New Zealand an opportunity to assess how best to apply the aid promised to South Vietnam; but it will not mean that New Zealand can expect to have any control over the disposition of that aid.

Physical contact between the Governments of New Zealand and South Vietnam remains circuitous. Australia, which recently established a diplomatic post in Hanoi, has been exploring from there the possibility that diplomatic relations can be established with the South. Formal recognition of the Government in Saigon at least allows New Zealand to add a very small voice to the pleas from other countries that the killing in South Vietnam should stop and that revenge should not be a principal object of the new regime. New Zealand and Australia are not likely to be listened to: they are on the short list of “ lackeys of the United States ” —the countries which attempted to help South Vietnam defend itself from invasion. Saigon’s new masters, in the euphoria of victory, have no special reason to be agreeable to recent enemies. Apart from such sentiments, the idea of diplomatic exchanges may have to wait until the new regime has been confirmed in office by the promised elections.

In recognising the P.R.G. the New Zealand Government has indicated again that the manner in which a Government has been established is no bar to its recogition. The principle was endorsed last year by the former Prime Minister (Mr Kirk), at whose behest New Zealand finally recognised the Russian conquest of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania 35 years ago and their subsequent formal incorporation into the Soviet Union. The attitude is usually sensible, if cynical, especially for such a country as New Zealand, which depends on foreign trade and cannot afford the luxury of bestowing political praise and blame through diplomatic posturing. The policy was summed up a week ago by the Minister of Finance (Mr Tizard) who,- as Acting Prime Minister, said: “ We favour a de facto recognition of an effective Government, particularly a Government which controls the capital ”, Perhaps, on this basis, the recognition by New Zealand of the Smith Government in Rhodesia should be expected. But such a pointed exception to the general policy makes a diplomatic point on which the New Zealand Government has not yet been given reason to change its mind.