Nuclear deterrent stance consistent —Mr Thomson

Press, 3 November 1983, Page 12

Nuclear deterrent stance consistent —Mr Thomson

PA Wellington The Government’s policy of not doing anything to undermine the effectiveness of the “nuclear deterent” was consistent with its policy of supporting nuclear disarmament, the Minister of Defence, Mr Thomson, has said. He was commenting in Parliament on a newspaper report quoting the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal David Jamieson, as saying that “New Zealand should never be party to moves to undermine the effectiveness of this (nuclear) deterrence.” The Social Credit leader, Mr Beetham, asked whether the statement conflicted with the Government’s

policy of global nuclear disarmament “Not at all,” Mr Thomson said. “It is completely in harmony with it.” Mr Thomson said Air Marshall Jamieson had said that the preservation of the balance in nuclear power between the major powers was vital to prevent the possibility of nuclear war. Mr D. L. Kidd (Nat., Marlborough) asked whether it was the Government’s policy to work for a ’‘mutual, balanced, and verifiable disarmament so as not to destabilise the world situation and thereby increase the possibility of nuclear conflict.” “Exactly. It is that instability that would be so dangerous,” said Mr Thomson.