N.Z., Aust. pledge closer co-operation

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34099, 11 March 1976, Page 18

N.Z., Aust. pledge closer co-operation

Sy

BRUCE KOHN,

N.E.P.A. staff correspondent)

ROTORUA. March 10 Closer co-operation between New Zealand and Australia on defence and trade matters was promised by the Prime Ministers of the two countries during their summit meeting at Moose Lodge, at Lake Rotoiti. today.

Both the New Zealand Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) and the Australian leader (Mr Fraser) emphasi-ed at a press conference at the end of formal talks that they wanted their Cabinet Ministers and officials to work more closely together. They pledged closer liaison and co-ordination in defence re-equipment and a fresh look at the limited free trade agreement between the countries in an effort to boost bilateral trade. And at the same time they promoted tighter defence cooperation with the United States and warned of the dangers of greater Soviet

activity in the Indian Ocean and Africa. Mr Muldoon said at a joint press conference held by the two leaders following their talks that he did not want to imply there was an immediate threat to Australia and New Zealand but it would be foolish not to recognise the long term possibilities. There was a settling down period going on in Asia now and insurgency continued. “One looks with some alarm at the global imperialism of the Soviet Union manifest in Angola at the present time and I think it would be naive to suggest that looking ahead over the next 10 years we are going to have no tension, no alarms, and even no movements in SouthEast Asia. “It is the duty of Governments in Australia and New Zealand to prepare themselves against any foreseeable eventuality to the greatest possible extent.” Both Mr Muldoon and Mr Fraser said their Governments supported the development by the United States of its naval base on the tiny Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia—a development which was opposed by the Labour governments of the two countries. i Mr Fraser said greater weight had to be given to development of an independent Australian defence capacity. And he added that I should Australia’s military ! strength have to be used | tighter logistic and supply I channels including New ZeaI land would be good. i He said that greater coi operation between the deI fence officials of both counities on efforts to have comimon equipment could proI vide greater business for the I defence factories of both ! nations. Both Prime Ministers said ithat events in Africa and the I Indian Ocean were of conicern to New Zealand and • Australia. “The United States, Ausralia. and New Zealand are ' not the ones promoting comj petition in the Indian Ocean.” Mr Fraser said. “What the United States is doing we .hope will match what the ' Soviet Union has already l done.” Both Prime Ministers ’claimed that Tasman relations with the United States | had improved since their Governments came to power. Mr Muldoon charged that the

i former New Zealand Labour Government had placed the : future of the A.N.Z.U.S. pact ; in jeopardy because of its - ambivalent’ attitude. “We have been through a ;. period of slight uneasiness as J far as the United States is . concerned,’’ he said. “We’ve made it clear we ’■want A.N.Z.U.S. to con- ’! tinue.” i The two leaders made it “ clear that they had found ' * each had similar views of a ! variety of issues. Mr Mul- > doon referred to problems • between the two nations as ■ problems “with a small ‘p’.” And Mr Fraser said he I found they had a pretty com- . mon "identity of view.” i Dealing with possible , future co-operation in trade [discussions with the Euro- . pean Economic Community ' both leaders agreed this was a concept which would not, become potentiallv workable * until New Zealand had completed the oresent phase of ;its negotiations with the • community about the end of i the year. Mr Muldoon said the ! limited free trade agreement ; between New Zealand and * Australia had not been working as well as some people I would like it too. II Mr Fraser is due to fly !from Auckland tomorrow [evening to return to Canberra.