Sir Thomas stands firm

Press, 29 August 1984, Page 2

Sir Thomas stands firm

Whether the Cook Islands would admit American nuclear warships to its ports is an issue entirely for it to decide, said its Prime Minister, Sir Thomas Davis. “Under constitutional understandings with New Zealand we do have these rights, and the forum decided that every country should exercise its own decision-making on this issue,” he said. Sir Thomas indicated that if the question arose, the Cooks would try not to be at variance with New Zealand.

However, he said that his country did have “treaties

and understandings with other countries, especially the United States. “I certainly do not want to step out of line with them concerning our understandings.” For the Cook Islands, warship visits have not become an issue, simply because no nuclear power has sought them. But Sir Thomas thinks it important that his country has the right to decide the issue. He said he generally supported the nuclear-free zone proposal, and that since 1978 he had moved against nuclear dumping and test-

ing, so far to no avail. Sir Thomas said he thought the zone could have a weakening effect on A.N.Z.U.S., as among the A.N.Z.U.S. countries there had been an understanding of free exchange of military capabilities; this must include nuclear weaponry, he said. “To us that is of some consequence. It is hoped that no-one will shoot anybody, and no-one will drop bombs on us,” he said. “We are not going to need any help — if we do, we won’t know about it, because it will be finished.”