Minister’s argument 'last-war logic’

Press, 14 June 1984, Page 12

Minister’s argument 'last-war logic’

PA Wellington Whether nuclear weapons aboard United States Navyships visiting New Zealand are strategic or tactical is totally irrelevant. says Social Credit’s spokesman on defence, Mr Dick Ryan. The Minister of Defence. Mr Thomson, said on Monday that New Zealand would not be a target for Soviet nuclear attack because visiting United States Naval vessels did not carrystrategic weapons. Nuclear weapons were only strategic if they could reach the Soviet homeland, Mr Thomson said. “What benefit would there be to the Russians in lob-

bing bombs into New Zealand ports’?" he said. Mr Ryan attacked Mr Thomson’s speech as a frightening display of "lastwar logic." "The military arguments are irrefutable. If Russia 'first strikes’ the United States it will have to strike all allied territories, which include New Zealand, in order to lessen retaliation." Mr Ryan said. "If ’ the U.S.A. first strikes' the U.S.S.R.. the response will be on allied populations, including New Zealanders, and not confined to the now-empty strategic missile silos or ships.

"That is what 'mutually assured destruction — MAD.’ the lunatic suicide pact we have inadvertently joined — is all about." Mr Ryan said Mr Thomson told the R.S.A. annual conference in Wellington that the Government would never withdraw New Zealand from A.N.Z.U.S. or refuse entry to nuclear-powered or nucleararmed ships. "To do so would run counter to this country’s proud record of reliability as a partner prepared to play a constructive and realistic role in support and stability in our region and beyond." he said.