Nuclear weapons

Press, 11 July 1983, Page 20

Nuclear weapons

Sir,—The United States has agreed to pay the 28,000 residents of the Marshall Islands $NZ279.2M to compensate them for damage caused by atomic testing. Our Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Cooper, has told us on his recent return from France that French nuclear testing in the Pacific cannot be separated from New Zealand’s trade with the Common Market. He says trade with France is important for New Zealanders’ standard of living and that cannot be ignored when New Zealand criticises nuclear testing. Is Mr Cooper seriously prepared to risk the health of New Zealanders for short-term economic gain, or perhaps he has in mind a long-term economic gain such as the United States has bestowed on the Marshall Islanders? How many rads of radiation equal how many tons of butter? — Yours, etc SUSAN SNELGROVE. July 6, 1983.

Sir,—l believe Mr Muldoon is very out of touch with his fellow New Zealanders over the issue of visits to New Zealand by nuclear vessels. It is insensitive of him to welcome nuclear vessels, such as the Texas, to our ports when many New Zealanders have shown that they support the idea of a nuclear-weapon-free zone. Indeed, those who oppose the visit and support N.W.F.Z.’s include doctors, neighbourhood peace groups, the Federation of Labour, feminist organisations, the Churches, Greenpeace, and the Labour Party. A full list would make exhausting reading. Additionally, your letter columns have generally shown that support for a nuclear-weapon-free zone is high, while opposition to the idea is low. Clearly, many people here oppose such visits and Mr Muldoon should listen to them instead of doing his best to please the United States and accepting these visits. — Yours, etc., G. COSTER. July 8, 1983.