Policy on nuclear ship visits

Press, 21 August 1984, Page 18

Policy on nuclear ship visits

NZPA-AAP Canberra The Australian Demo crats have announced an international relations policy which allows for the continuation of A.N.Z.U.S. and United States bases in Australia. The policy puts the Democrats firmly to the right of the New Nuclear Disarmament Party, which is committed to closing the bases immediately. Announcing the policy the Democrats leader, Senator Don Chipp, asserted that the conditions placed on continuation of the bases and

the treaty would be so stringent as to probably force the Americans out anyway. Democrat policy would require renegotiation of A.N2.U.S. to make it nonnuclear, and Australian control of the United States facilities at Pine Gap, Nurrungar, and North-West Cape, he said. Asked whether this meant the bases could stay he replied, “Yes. But they’ve got to lose their nuclear pre-emptive strike capacity and they’ve got to allow Australians to have know-

ledge of and control of the operations.” Senator Chipp revealed that arrangements were underway for him to visit New Zealand in support of the ban by the Prime Minister, Mr Lange on nuclear ships visiting New Zealand ports. Senator Chipp said he was “appalled” at the pressure being applied to New Zealand by the Australian Labour Government, which, had been elected on an antinuclear platform. Australia should follow the lead of New Zealand,

Papua New Guinea, and Greece by banning nuclear warships and the superpowers’ “mad plan to destroy the human race,” he said. Senator Chipp said that cities such as New York and Boston had banned nucleararmed aircraft, proving such a stand was not antiAmerican. “We in Australia openedarmed say come in, come into Sydney and Melbourne and bring your nuclear bombs in there.” Statements by the United States Secretary of State,

Mr George Shultz that New Zealand’s stand threatened A.N.Z.U.S. were typical of the “bluff’ employed by the United States, he said. “That’s the way American Secretaries of State have been inclined to operate — with bluff. “Now each time they do it we have a succession of Australian Foreign Ministers who cower and tug the forelock — I believe it’s time we stood up and were counted.”. In spite of Democrat policy that A.N.Z.U.S. could continue in a non-nuclear form, Senator Chipp questioned the usefulness of the treaty. “A.N.Z.U.S. is not a precious document that in the event of Australia being attacked immediately and automatically triggers off . American troops, warships, and planes to .come and defend us. “It does nothing of the kind ... America will come to Australia's aid in time of an attack, for one reason — not because of a piece of paper, not because of A.N.Z.U.S. but for one. reason - the self-interest of the United States of America. “Indeed, why have it at, all? . . . let’s examineobjectively the value of, A.N.Z.U.S. Is it a sacred cowwhich should take precedent, over all principle?” he asked.