Sinai force policy

Press, 24 June 1981, Page 6

Sinai force policy

'W Parliamentary reporter £$A shift in Labour Party defence policy has occurred yr. the matter ■'of a Sinai pgace-keeping force. ;“»The shadow Minister for-; Defence. Mr. M. A. Connelly; M’a policy statement made last , month, said the Labour Party would accept an invitation to send a New Zealand contingentto join an: multi-national . /peace-keeping force”. rtjpunted in the Sinai by the President' of the United Stites. This .would be in the s ftvent of- failure to establish a 7 uridc'i" ■ United 7 ( J auspices. <

However, a policy statement, mentioned by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Rowling) in comments made on Monday"' after talks with' the American,, Secretary of State (Mr ; Haig). said a Labour Government would, ' commit New Zealand men to the planned peace-keeping force only if the force was under United Nations auspices, or was requested; and by all the countries directly affected. From Canberra the Press Association; reported that’the Australian Prime 'Minister ‘ (Mr. Fraser) left Canberra for

Mexico yesterday repeat; ig his promise not to commit Australian troops to a Sinai peace-keeping force during his 2*/?'-wecß American tour. “No decision wilKbe-made ;while I am in the United States and it might well be quite some time after I return that we will be in a position to make a decision,” ( he said. The Sinai decision was a 7"very difficult : one” for - the Government and there were ..substantial .../arguments on * Wth sides bifthe Sinai equation, he added.