Socialist win significant for Pacific, says P.M.

Press, 12 May 1981, Page 1

Socialist win significant for Pacific, says P.M.

Parliamentary reporter The ' election of the socialist, Mr Francois Mitterrand, as President of France must have consequences in the South Pacific, said the Prime Minister ' (Mr Muldoon) yesterday. ; “If anything, it is likely to accelerate the move to independence of the French South Pacific territories, particularly French Polynesia and New Caledonia,” he said. “In terms of our interest in the South Pacific, that is significant. “In terms of our relationship with the European community, I would rather see an analysis by someone better qualified than I to assess Mr Mitterrand’s policies as far as our exports to Europe are concerned. “My belief is that he will

take a less hard line than President Giscard d’ Estaing.” Mr Muldoon said that he doubted if there would be any specific‘value to New Zealand in the probable speeding up of the “inevitable”’move to independence of the French territories in the South Pacific. But there was no doubt that there was a very strong feeling among the independent States of the South Pacific that all the colonial territories should become independent. Mr Muldoon said he had been told that the annual conference of the Labour Party—being held in Wellington this week — had sent a telegram of congratulation to President Mitterrand, saying that his election had proved that Socialism was not dead. “Obviously up until

yesterday they thought it was,” he said. “What it proves to me is that the Communist Party and the Labour Party are still bedfellows,” he said. The Press Association reported yesterday that delegates to the Labour Party’s sixthy-fifth annual conference applauded loudly when told of Mr Mitterand’s victory. “It shows socialism is not dead,” said the Party President (Mr J. P. Anderton). The conference agreed to send a special message of congratulations to Mr Mitterand. The French Ambassador (Mr J. Gueury) said in Wellington that Mr Mitterrand had made no mention of changes in French Pacific policy during his campaign.

“The situation in the French overseas territories has not been mentioned in the campaign,” Mr Gueury said, adding that the nuclear testing issue had not been raised either. He said that it was too early to say-if communist Ministers would be included in the Mitterrand Government. Mr Mitterrand had avoided mentioning this during the campaign. “He succeeded in not compromising himself,” Mr Gueury said. “It will be a difficult task for him.” Unlike United States ambassadors, Mr Gueury is a Civil Service appointment and is not required to resign on the election of a new President. Mr Mitterand will take over on May 24. Mitterrand’s win—Page S.