Stance on zone ‘not explained’

Press, 18 June 1980, Page 12

Stance on zone ‘not explained’

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Acting Prime Minister (Mr Taiboys), says the leader of the Opposition (Mr Rowling) has not explained why a nu-clear-free zone in. the Pacific should exclude visits by nuclear-powered vessels from the United States or any other country.

Mr Rowling had said there was nothing in the A.N.Z.U.'S. Pact requiring members to accept visits by vessels or aircraft of other alliance members, Mr Taiboys said. But article 11 of the treaty says that the partners “by means of continous and effective self-help and mutual aid will maintain and develop their individual and collective capacity to resist armed attack.”

“This commits New Zealand to help Australia and the United States to maintain their defence capabilities, and in the case of the United States, nu-clear-powered ships play a key role in the total defence effort in the Pacific,” Mr Taiboys said. “It is wholly unrealistic, in the Government’s view, to suggest that it is cons i s t e n t with our A.N.Z.U.'S. obligations to refuse even to let American ships visit our ports. There is nothing mutual about that. It would make A.N.Z.U.S. into a one-way street,” Mr Taiboys said.