A friend at the court of President Reagan

Press, 1 May 1981, Page 12

A friend at the court of President Reagan

NZPA staff correspondent, Washington

“Unless we provide markets for some of the countries that are friendly to us, they won’t be able to assume the defence burden we want them to assume,” the man named to a key post in the United States State Department told Congress on Monday. It was a paraphrase of the message the New Zealand Government has been endeavouring to hammer home to the United States for some time. And coming from Mr John H. Holdridge, nominated as assist; ant Secretary, of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, it delighted New Zealand diplomats in Washington. They had already privately -hailed the nomination of Mr Holdridge to the State Department’s key policy-making position as far as New Zealand is concerned. He is a foreign service expert on the AsianPacific region, has visited New Zealand a number of times, and has a cousin in Kerikeri. Mr Holdridge made his comment when he appeared before the Senate foreign relations committee for confirmation of his appointment. He did not (mention New Zealand by name

and did not elaborate, but it was clear to observers that he was reflecting the “linkage” in foreign, defence and trade policies that New Zealand has been advocating to United States Administrations in recent years. New Zealand's argument has been that it cannot afford to maintain its commitments to the ANZUS treaty and the Western alliance over-all if America limits its trading opportunities by restrictions against imports. The Secretary of State, Mr Alexander Haig, and other top officials in the Reagan Administration have already indicated,their acceptance of this general principle in talks with the Foreign Minister, Mr Brian Taiboys, recently. Mr Holdridge, 56, is a former United States ambassador to Singapore, deputy chief of the United States Liaison Office in Beijing (Peking) and national intelligence officer for China. He was closely questioned on his policies towards.'China and Taiwan following public criticism of his appointment by Senator Jesse Helms, a Rightwing Republican, who accused

him of “encouraging a tilt towards the People’s Republic of China.” He told the committee that in the post he would move to maintain and strengthen America’s relationship with China, “which is of over-riding importance, based on our common sense of the threat from the Soviet Union.” But he added that the “non-official” relationship with Taiwan would continue and be improved “in style and content.” Under questioning, Mr Holdridge expressed his support for the Pacific Basin concept, linking countries in the region, suggesting that Canada and Mexico — both Pacific nations which have had little involvement in regional affairs — could be included. But he said the’ United States supported the concept of some regional link only to the extent that countries in the area wanted it. He noted reservations of members of the Association of SouthEast Asian Nations about being swamped in a broader grouping.

The committee is to vote on Mr Holdridge’s nomination on May 5.