Russians silent in face of P.M.’s attacks

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34128, 14 April 1976, Page 1

Russians silent in face of P.M.’s attacks

(New Zealand Press Association/ WELLINGTON, April 13. The Soviet Union is still maintaining its stony official silence in the face of the series of attacks by the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) deploring Soviet activity in the Indian Ocean and Africa, and expressing concern that New Zealand could now he a target for Russian missiles.

The Prime Minister’s recent speeches, which are said to have brought a Cold War tone back into New Zealand foreign policy, are believed to have been mentioned more than once by Soviet news agencies, but there has so far been no official Government reaction.

However. foreign affairs specialists say that this does not mean that the Russians are not interested in the Prime Minister’s remarks.

The specialists say that the fact that Soviet agencies have commented indicates more than passing interest and that the Soviet Foreign Ministry is considering the response it

should take. Mr Muldoon’s latest attack came in London, where he told the influential and exclusive Foreign Affairs Club that new Russian rocket developments meant that New Zealand could now be as much a target for Soviet nuclear missiles as the key cities of the West. The days when New Zealand sent its men to fight in far distant lands but was itself free from direct threat were over, he said. Not aimed at us

“I think it is important that you people here in Britain as well as New Zealand-’ ers should realise that New Zealand can now be reached by Soviet land-based missiles as easily as London or New York.”

Mr Muldoon said he had no reason to believe that any of Russia’s 1600 land-based inter-continental ballistic missils were in fact targeted on New Zealand. “Nor do I see any reason why they should be. but it is as well to acknowledge that they can now reach us.” He said that four new types of 1.C.8.M.. each capable of delivering several nuclear warheads, had been developed and successfully flight-tested into the Pacific.

All missiles of the Russian strategic force were capable of covering the continental United States from points inside the Soviet Union, he said. “Although United States targets are almost certainly their principal objective, it is of some significance for the South Pacific region that some of these missiles are capable of covering New Zealand. Australia, and the South Pacific islands from sites in the Soviet Far East.” Soviet warships which were appearing in increasing numbers in the Indian Ocean were a reminder that oil for New Zealand and Australia

moved by that route as well as that destined for Japan. Thus the question of a military base on the island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean was “no less an academic matter for us any more than it is for the United States or Britain.” Some observers saw Mr Muldoon’s reference to the (Soviet nuclear threat in his first major speech in London [as an added reminder to the •new British Government, and Ito the rest of the European 'Common Market, of the precariousness of New Zealand’s position. The threat of potential Russian aggression added to New Zealand’s current economic crisis makes it even more important that New Zealand’s trading interests in Europe be safeguarded, the argument goes. Mr Muldoon noted that since the first Strategic Arms Limitations Talks (S.A.L.T.) agreement in May, 1972, the Russians had been engaged in an impressive programme to improve the quality of their strategic missile force. The new family of 1.C.8.M.s

fight-tested into the Pacific were now being brought into service in place of older missiles. he said.

Considering this, said the president of the Auckland branch of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (Mr Rlichard Northey). “we cannot understand why the Prime Minister should decide to welcome frequent visits by warships armed with nuclear weapons, which is a policy likely to make New Zealand a probable target. “There is only one way in which New Zealand can genuinely safeguard its security and survival in a world dominated by the nuclear arms race between the Soviet Union and the United States, said Mr Northey.

“That is to try to prevent the deployment of nuclear weapons in this part of the world by keeping nuclear warships out of our harbours and vigorously promoting a nuclear-free zone in the South Pacific.” Wellington waterside workers have decided not to work while anv nuclear-powered or armed ships are in Wellington Harbour. The secretary of the Wellington Waterside Workers’ Union (Mr Pat Heffron) said union members will stop work if any nuclear-equipped vessel visits Wellington.

The ban would continue while the vessel stayed in port. The decision emphasised the union’s total opposition to nuclear powered vessels. Mr Heffron said.