New ambassador seeking ‘trade relations’

Press, 2 June 1982, Page 14

New ambassador seeking ‘trade relations’

NZPA staff correspondent Washington New Zealand's new Ambassador to the United States. Mr Lance AdamsSchneider, sees his job as primarily "getting alongside people" who may influence trade between the two countries. . The former Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Lance Adams-Schneider, says that he and his wife. Shirley, plan to entertain as much as they can'and accept invitations to meet influential Americans. He made it clear in an interview’ that he is prepared to by-pass the bureaucracy and telephone the Prime Minister or any other Minister to report immediately on any important conversations he has with Administration officials or American politicians. “There’s a need to keep on top of the job," he said. “At the moment things are all right, but I'm sufficient of a politician to realise that they don’t continue on an even keel.” • Mr Adams-Schneider said he would seek out Senators

and representatives who took a line contrary to New Zealand’s interests and talk to them “and see what makes them tick.” ■; He said he had no plans at this stage for any substantive change of emphasis or style, compared with previous ambassadors. "We'H take it from day to day." he said. “It will be a full-time job meeting people and dealing with people" Mr Adams-Schneider said he talked with producer board representatives and other exporters in Wellington before coming to Washington and that he would continue close co-operation w’ith them during his three-year term. “I expect to be watching their interests." he said. The Ambassador said he felt his experience as a politician would be useful in Washington because of the fellow feeling among all people who had been elected and the recognition of access to senior politicians at home. Political appointments to the American Embassy in Wellington worked well too, he said, because of the frequent contacts there with New Zealand Ministers.

Mr Adams-Schneider indicated that he foresaw no problems with the embassystaff because he was a former politician rather than someone who had climbed the Foreign Affairs career ladder. He worked with public servants for many years in New Zealand, he said... “and it won’t be any different here, working with very -experienced officers. They run a very tight ship at this embassy." The Ambassador said he would keep a close watch on defence matters, and expected weekly or daily consultations. He had no immediate instructions to invite President Reagan to New Zealand, he said. The Ambassador did not yet have a date for presentation of his credentials to the President. In the meantime he is meeting senior Administration officials. These talks, he says, are primarily so they begin to get to know each other rather than to discuss substantive issues.