Islands sun sets on Union Jack

Press, 22 May 1978, Page 14

Islands sun sets on Union Jack

NZPA London The Union Jack will soon rarely be seen in the South Pacific, an area which 70 years ago Britain dominated as part of its world-wide empire.

In the next two years, full independence will be granted to four island groups: Tuvalu, the Gilberts, the Solomons, and the New Hebrides, on which the Union Jack flies in condominium equality with the Tricolour of France.

After that, only the lonely, isolated Bounty mutiny outpost of Pitcairn Island will continue to hoist the historic ensign for the forseeable future.

New Zealand has repeatedly pronounced its acceptance of obligations left by the British withdrawal. But Britain this week pledged continuing, significant interest and involvement in the South Pacific. In an interview' with NZPA, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Lord Goronwy-Roberts) said Britain would “never withdraw absolutely” from the region, “Britain fully and strongly, intends to remain present in an increasingly significant way,” he said. Its former military and

colonial presence was now “no longer possible or necessary.” Britains interest was now “more helpful”, and Lord Goronwy-Roberts said Britain was “deeply interested in preserving close links with the area in general and with each individual State.

“The independence settlements which have been made will show this is our intention ... we have been financially gene.rous. “While they obtain independence with our strong support, we will not detach ourselves from their future.”

The old military and colonial .involvement would be superseded by direct aid, by technical assistance and by trade — both bilaterally and through international agreements like the E.E.C.’s convention which allows access to European markets by developing Caribbean, African and Pacific nations.

While Britain’s aid stance is almost paraellel with that of New Zealand, the attitude of its Labour Government towards hints of increasing Russian interest is of a much lower key than that of the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon).

Mr Muldoon has expressed strong concern about Soviet ambitions in the region, in-

i itally expressed by moves for fishing bases in Tonga ■and Western Samoa. Possible Cuban interest in the [New Hebridean internal political dispute was also rumoured earlier this year, although widely dismissed. The strategic importance of the Pacific to the West has been emphasised recently by New Zealand during the drive for access to food markets of the European Community, particularly Britain. A strong, economically healthy New Zealand would be vital for preserving Western influence in the South-West Pacific basin, Mr Muldoon argued. But Lord Goronwy-Roberts emphasised that he did not see Soviet interest as a likely threat. “We would be concerned if any external power were to take advantage of these islands. But we do not see that this kind of threat is at all imminent or present. “We expect our connection with these new States, not in a quasi.-Gov-ernmental way but by virtue of our long association, will not allow the traditional friendship to be easily destroyed. The bias of our joint relationship will continue as it has with Australia and New Zealand,” he said.