The emphasis in A.N.Z.U.S.

Press, 1 August 1977, Page 16

The emphasis in A.N.Z.U.S.

"We are no longer obsessed by the problems of communism versus the free world,” said Mr Warren Christopher, the American Deputy Secretary of State, while he was in Wellington for a meeting of the A.N.Z.U.S. Council. Probably these words give as good a clue as any to the flavour of the twoday meeting, at which Australia and New Zealand were represented by their respective Ministers of Foreign Affairs (Mr Peacock and Mr Taiboys)., A.N.Z.U.S. is primarily a security treaty but nothing that could be interpreted as even a dire warning, let alone belligerence, emerged from the meeting. Security and stability were certainly mentioned in the communique, but the emphasis lay elsewhere.

It is probably true that the greatest threats to mankind lie in the proliferation of nuclear weapons, the simmering problems of the poorer nations, and in arms, but it is refreshing to have the leaders of a security pact see- the problem in these terms. Arrangements for aid to some Pacific countries were made at the 197fi A.N.Z.U.S. Council meeting in Canberra, but the 1977 meeting had broader vision still. Even if the trend was already there, the

American Administration under President Carter has accelerated it

One of the most significant aspects of the communique as far as New Zealand is concerned is the weight given to the problems of international trade. The health of the economies of the three partners was held to be of concern to each. Even if it is a little more than an expression of good will, and for from an undertaking about markets, the reference in the communique still has some significance. The application of the treaty in its traditional security aspects obviously received some attention. The question of the inclusion of Papua New Guinea arose—a question that would probably be raised by Australia which has strong traditional links with Papua New Guinea. West Irian guerrillas have been straining relations between Indonesia and Papua New 7 Guinea. However, no widening of the A.N.Z.U.S. membership may be expected: the United States is unlikely to want to get itself into an arrangement with Papua New Guinea that looks like a threat to Indonesia; and Papua New Guinea itself would be likely to avoid taking any action that could be interpreted as provocative to Indonesia. Elsewhere, the A.N.Z.U.S. partners saw reasonable hope for continuing peace in Asia.