Mr McLay’s ‘go easy’ plea under attack

Press, 8 February 1985, Page 1

Mr McLay’s ‘go easy’ plea under attack

PA Wellington The Leader of the Opposition, Mr McLay, sent a telegram yesterday to the American senator proposing trade sanctions against New Zealand, asking him to go easy on the nation. But the Prime Minister, Mr Lange, last evening slammed Mr McLay’s move as a pathetic plea for mercy and said the Opposition Leader was making a fool of himself. Mr McLay, whose telegram ran to 500 words, told reporters he had informed

Senator William Cohen that sanctions might not have the effect of changing Government policy but could seriously damage many New Zealanders who worked in export industries and did not necessarily support the Government’s policies.

“I have told him that the majority of New Zealanders value our links with the United States and will be working very hard to maintain, and if necessary, rebuild our traditional relationships,” Mr McLay said. “I have asked him to avoid

steps that might further isolate New Zealand from its traditional friends. As Mr McLay spoke, Senator Cohen, (Republican) of Maine, was scheduled to introduce his bill to impose economic and other sanctions against New Zealand as direct retaliation for refusal of nuclear ship visits. Two bills to limit casein imports were also before Congress. In Washington, two Administration officials were reported to have announced that the United States would not impose any overt trade sanctions against New Zealand.

“In effect, he’s pleading

for mercy from Senator Cohen, as if Senator Cohen runs American economic policy,” Mr Lange said. The senator had written to President Reagan, urging him to do three things and also introduced to the Senate some resolutions which he was not putting to a vote, “In the face of that devastating prospect, Mr McLay has prostrated himself all over the international telex circuits. He is literally making a fool of himself. “The United States has said it is not going to engage in economic sanctions — Mr McLay is doing a rain dance as if it is.”