U.S. confident ship ban unlikely

Press, 26 July 1984, Page 2

U.S. confident ship ban unlikely

NZPA staff correspondent Los Angeles President Reagan said yesterday that he had "every reason to be optimistic” that New Zealand would not deny entry to nuclear-powered or nucleararmed American warships. However, if entry was denied, “I do not think it would affect trade,” he said. Mr Reagan, speaking at a press conference at the White House, said he “would rather not get in too deeply” on any linkage between ship visits and trade. “It is something that will be worked out and negotiated with the new Government of New Zealand, and I have every reason to be optimistic there will not be any denial to our ships,” he said. The President was then asked if the United States would negotiate a separate treaty with Australia if the A.N.Z.U.S. treaty collapsed because of the New Zealand Labour Party’s policy. “I do not want to get into anything that might sound as if I am pressuring or threatening or anything of the kind,” Mr Reagan said. “Let me just'say we will do our best to persuade them (the New Zealand Government) that it is in their best interests as well as ours for us to continue with our alliance with these countries, as we have been,” he said. The Prime Minister-elect, Mr Lange, declined to comment.