N.Z. policy on Iran

Press, 14 April 1980, Page 16

N.Z. policy on Iran

Sir, — Janet E. Lute (April 12) obviously believes that the United States, led by President Carter, has, but New Zealand, led by Mr Muldoon has not, to quote her, the “guts and inclination to support basic human rights” in Iran. Perhaps, she could enlighten your readers and myself, by explaining how, and in which form, the United States has followed this fine principle in recent years. The record shows that the United States invaded and devastated a peasant country, Vietnam, and supports, with military and economic aid, such gross violators of human rights, as the Presidents of those great outposts of the “free world,” Pakistan, the Philippines, South Korea, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, and Turkey. The United States — just 6 per cent of the human race — cannot expect to go on using up 40 per cent of its resources, while pretending concern for “basic human rights.” — Yours, etc., M. T. MOORE. April 12, 1980.

Sir, — Why should New Zealand pat America — big America — on the back for its aggressiveness and violation of natural law? For one thing, the Shah should have been sent back, with all his filthy loot and booty, to the Iranian people as swiftly as the Prime Minister, Mr Muldoon, sent that Russian back to Russia. Indeed, did not all hell break , loose when Nixon did his secret act on the American people, and they found out? I canriot see. why

Carter has to drag the rest of the world into a matter which has been his own gross mistake. But then, it is all anent money, of course, even his defence spending — of billions while other parts of the world starve and are wretched. He has no thoughts but totally selfinterested “honour.” No true honour exists today in world politics in some countries. — Yours, etc., CHARLES LOVECRAFT, April 10, 1980.