German President to seek Pacific ties

Press, 21 September 1978, Page 16

German President to seek Pacific ties

By (

OLIVER RIDDELL,

of “The Press,” who has

just returned from a visit to West Germany as a guest of the Government in Bonn.

Walter Scheel is almost certainly in his final year as Federal President of West Germany. A shift to the Right in state elections and his own indifferent health make it likely that he will not stand again in 1979. An astute and experienced politician, it seems most unlikely that he would agree to make the arduous trip to New Zealand almost as a swan-song to his career unless he stood to record some achievement durftig it. Circumstances make several tangible achievements during the trip possible. That he should be accompanied by the Federal Minister of Economics (Mr Otto Lambsdorff) reinforces this feeling. Mr Lambsdorff will be talking Government-to-Gov-ernment economics while in New Zealand as a necessary prelude to exploring shortterm questions of trade. But there is also the long-term issue of co-operation between New Zealand and German enterprises, to encourage greater industrialisation here. New Zealand has been pressing for this and interest by the German Government would provide useful impetus. Both President Scheel and Mr Lambsdorff will certainly be talking about the turn-

around in New Zealand-Ger-man trade. Officials in Bonn were not so worried about the reversal of trade figures in New Zealand’s favour, because this is not very significant in terms of Germany’s over-all trade. But the drop in New Zealand purchases seems, to them, to be indicative of an alarming decline in economic strength.

President Scheel will also be interested in cementing the growing ties — social and psychological as well as political and economic — between the two countries. Germans sometimes despair of New Zealand ever shedding its emotional ties with Britain. For several reasons, Germany looks on New Zealand as a useful partner.

Reasons advanced for this partnership between an economic David and Goliath were that the two countries were both stable, Western democracies, that there was a power vacuum in the South Pacific which West Germany could fill more appropriately than France or Pritain in the post-colonial era (or than a great power like the United States), that Russian activities in the South Pacific made it imperative that some Western powers took an interest, that Germany has historic ties with Papua New Guinea and

Western Samoa (both former German colonies) and in the regional generally. All these reasons are capable of arousing the interest of German officials when used to promote New Zealand. But the real causes of German interest lie deeper, Germany’s age-old historical problem has been that it has had no hinterland. Britain, France, the Netherlands, Belglum, Spain, Portugal and

Italy all had colonies which, even when they were obliged to part with them, remained as spheres of influence. After two World Wars, Germany has been stripped of her colonies and left such a residue of mistrust with her neighbours that the country cannot contemplate political initiatives in Europe, even though Germany’s economic strength might

justify them- The answer has been to find a new hinterland. In fact, Germany has found two — first in South-East Asia, where there has been tremendous German investment in recent years, and now in the South Pacific. All these factors will have influenced President Scheel to visit New Zealand during his last year of office. But he wanted something positive to achieve as well. He has two possibilities and his officials are working hard to ensure they will be ready in time.

In 1977, after some years of dithering (by Australia over the site), a GermanAur.ralian Chamber of Commerce was opened in Sydney. After the announcement of this the New Zealand Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) suggested to the West German Government that there be a similar arrangement for New Zealand. A visit by President Scheel is an obvious occasion for this suggestion to be taken up. Such a chamber of commerce would facilitate investigations by German and New Zealand interests in the prospects for joint projects. It would certainly be welcomed by the New Zealand Government. But the German officials involved have run into a snag which can, perhaps, be overcome in time for President Scheel to make an announcement. There seems to be general

agreement that it should be based in Auckland, as the biggest commercial centre, and also that it should start with a staff of one German with experience in New Zea* land, and build from there. But the officials wonder if New Zealand might not be too small to Warrant an independent chamber of commerce, and whether it should not operate as a branch of the Australian chai, ber based in Sydney. The second option poses great political problems, as they are aware, but on the other hand if the chamber is too small it will not work properly. If this particular point is left open, or has not been resolved, by the time of the visit, then the opinion of the 8.D.1. (German Indus* trial Association) representative in the party will be crucial. A full 8.D.1. delegation is due in March, 1979, and an advance representative could help to clear up the point.

President Scheel's second achievement may be in the announcement of a major joint venture into deepsea fishing. Commercial details have already been agreed between the parties and the West German Government has given its blessing, but approval by the New Zealand Government is still awaited. A formal announcement may be delayed to coincide with the visit.