“A way back to A.N.Z.U.S.?”

Press, 24 May 1985, Page 16

“A way back to A.N.Z.U.S.?”

Sir, — The whole basis of your editorial of May 22 rests on the assumption that a strong West, headed by America, is the main factor in preserving a nuclear peace. I dispute this and refer readers to the statement by

Andrew Mack on page 28 of the same issue. The West, particularly the United States, has been overstating the Soviet menace, so that the nuclear stockpile has increased fifty-fold in 25 years. At this rate of escalation, what will things be like in another 25 years? The interests of New Zealand and the world are best served by our adopting a neutral position, preferably in agreement with Australia, the independent States of the South Pacific and even ultimately with A.S.E.A.N. Your editorial reflects yet again pre-nuclear thinking and in a matter of such crucial importance I feel that the advocates of neuturality should be given equal space to make an equally detailed refutal. — Yours, etc.,

VERNON WILKINSON. May 22, 1985.

Sir, — Your editorial “A way back to A.N.Z.U.S.?” (May 22) may have some validity so far as the Pacific Island States to the north of us are concerned; but you still proceed on the assumption that nuclear warfare can be considered within the same basic mental framework as non-nuclear warfare. You still proceed on the assumption that the United States is genuinely trying to negotiate an arms agreement with the Soviet Union. And you still proceed on the assumption that in such negotiations unwavering unity in the “western” camp — of the variety that the Soviet Union enforces amongst its sometimes unwilling allies — is an absolute necessity. All these assumptions deserve to be queried. — Yours, etc.,

I. J. CATANACH. May 22, 1985.

Sir, — The most alarming aspect of “The Press,” editorials — including the latest of May 22, on A.N.Z.U.S. — has been the failure to face up to America’s nuclear war-fighting strategy. Some of the United States’ most influential people are critical of Reaganist foreign policy (May 22), and various prominent, experienced Americans warn us about it. They include Averell Harriman, Cyrus Vance, and George Ball. Similarly, RearAdmiral Gene La Rocque, director of the authoritative Centre for -Defence Information, and William

Arkin, director of the Arms Race and Nuclear Weapons Research Project at the Institute for Policy Studies, have both stated their conviction that the Reagan Administration wants to “win” World War 111 with nuclear weapons. Yet “The Press,” foolishly talks about “trust” in relation to a super-Power which plans to use other countries for battlefields (February 20). As a defence expert, Andrew Mack, points out, America is an unreliable ally (May 22). — Yours, etc., D. K. SMALL. May 22, 1985.