British deny knowledge of visit by spies

Press, 30 August 1985, Page 4

British deny knowledge of visit by spies

PA Wellington Suggestions that British agents might have been involved in the Rainbow Warrior scandal were dismissed by the head of British defence Intelligence, Air Marshal Sir Michael Armitage, in Wellington yesterday. He also said he would be very surprised if Britain knew that the French secret service, D.G.S.E., had sent agents to New Zealand. Sir Michael said it was “completely ludicrous to suggest that British Intelligence would be mixed up in this affair.” News media reports in France have suggested that the Rainbow Warrior bomb-

ing could have been done by British agents in retaliation for the supply of Exocet missiles to Argentina during the Falklands war.

They have also suggested that British Intelligence tipped off the New Zealand police about the presence of French spies. Sir Michael is in New Zealand on what he described as a routine visit, arranged four months ago. He said topics he would discuss with defence officials would not include the Rainbow Warrior bombing.

The bombing “really has nothing whatever to do with defence Intelligence, which is my business,” he said.