Gleneagles agreement

Press, 3 November 1981, Page 16

Gleneagles agreement

Sir,—For one who accuses me of quoting out of context, John Barclay (October 31) shows a cavalier disregard for the text of the agreement by interpolating his own wording (in much the same way that Mr Muldoon does) when he writes, “that the signatories agreed to combat apartheid and sporting contacts with South Africa by persuasion and discouragement.” Nowhere in the text of the Gleneagles Agreement is there any suggestion that "persuasion” was an acceptable means of discouragement and he ignores the words “by taking every practical step” to discourage contact or competition by their nationals with South Africa. John Barclay has no arguments to justify Mr Muldoon’s breaching the agreement by assigning a massive police escort to accompany the Springboks around New Zealand, an act which belies Mr Muldoon’s protestations of opposition to apartheid and the tour. Mr Muldoon, himself, poses the choice of Gleneagles or him. — Yours, etc., M. CREEL. October 31, 1981. .