Ottawa envoy cast into troubled waters

Press, 7 December 1976, Page 10

Ottawa envoy cast into troubled waters

PA staff corres. Washington

Mr Dean Eyre, whose reappointment as High Commissioner to Canada was criticised by Foreign Service officers in New Zealand will took up his post in Ottawa yesterday.

He has arrived in Canada at a stage in trade and political developments that is seen by some observers as critical for New Zealand .

He is likely, before he has had much chance to settle into the job, to be thrown into negotiations on New Zealand beef exports to Canada. and looming over him will be the question of New Zealand’s participation at the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton the year after next.

Mr Eyre, twice a Minister in National Governments, was High Commissioner to Canada from 1968 to 1973.

He was followed in the post by Mr Jack Shepherd, a highlv qualified career officer. When Mr Shepherd completed his term last month, Mr Eyre was named to replace him. The appointment led the president of the Foreign Service Association (Mr B. J. Lynch) to say that career diplomats were upset that the Government had again gone outside their ranks to fill a senior post abroad. “It is particularly disappointing that the Government should be increasing the number of non-career

appointments at a time when, the need for experienced diplomats has been proved, and when able and experienced people are available within the career service,”

said Mr Lynch. The Canadians could call on New Zealand for talks on beef imports almost before Mr Eyre has been accredited, talks which would certainly need to involve the High Commissioner.

Canada imposed quotas on beef imports in October, in retaliation against United States quotas, and thus restricted what had been an open market earlier in the year.

What Canada does in 1977 will hinge on the outcome of talks starting in Washington this week between the United States and meat exporters, Canada included, to the United States. If it places restrictions on Canadian meat next year, as is

thought likely, Canada will almost certainly retaliate, according to informed

sources. There will be strong do-! mestic political pressure for; her to do so. Canadian controls would probably include New Zealand and Australia, the other two main suppliers of beef. ' Once it is clear what is to happen about the United States-Canada beef trade, New’ Zealand will be called; in for talks in Ottaw’a, al-i most certainly before the; end of the year.

. New Zealand’s position will be to oppose and argue against any restrictions on exports to Canada. But if Can- ; ada insists on controls, there will be questions of amounts

and terms. With talks expected to take 1 place this month, Mr Eyre will have little time to get ready, and it is understood! that New Zealand officials in Ottawa have asked for Mr Eyre’s accreditation to be

arranged as soon as possible. Such a move is not particularly unusual, but couplet, with the closeness of the beef talks it indicates the new High Commissioner will not have a “quiet, take-it-easy”

I reintroduction to Ottawa. ! The importance of the beef; !talks is underlined by the; • fact that New Zealand has[ | shipped 80M lb of beef to; ; Canada this year. ! Beef is easily New Zea-; (land’s biggest export earner lon the Canadian market.

I The Commonwealth Games lis another issue which w’ill ! quickly embroil Mr Eyre.

' Some African authorities ' are threatening a Black Africa pull-out from Edmonton unless New Zealand cuts all sporting ties with South Africa. The issue is an emotional one, which has implications even for the continued existence of the Commonwealth. Canada and Edmonton have I invested heavily, financially; and otherwise, in the 1978 Games and do not want to! see them fail.