Ministry admits error

Press, 14 June 1984, Page 18

Ministry admits error

PA Wellington An error in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs booklet on disarmament resulted from an assumption over Soviet missile strength, the Ministry has said. Figures in the booklet concerning the number of Soviet missiles in Western Europe were taken from an American publication, said a spokesman, Mr David Atkins.

But the figures referred to the total of SS-20 missiles deployed by the Russians,

not just those in the Western theatre.

A Wanganui peace researcher, Mr Arthur Reddish, has challenged information contained in the 56-page booklet, saying it contained several mistakes. Mr Atkins said the error concerning Soviet missile strength was conceded, but the Ministry did not accept claims by Mr Reddish of other inaccuracies. A chart on the number of warheads held by the Soviet Union and the United States

did not list all nuclear forces of both Powers, Mr Atkins said.

Mr Reddish appeared to be suggesting that American short-range and cruise missiles should have been included, but not Soviet ones, an argument the Ministry did not accept. Mr Atkins also denied Mr Reddish’s assertion that the American publication, “Soviet Military Power, 1983,” was the sole source of information for the disarmament booklet.