Anti-N ‘fine print’ awaited

Press, 14 October 1985, Page 16

Anti-N ‘fine print’ awaited

NZPA staff correspondent Washington Australia and the United States are awaiting the fine print of New Zealand’s antinuclear legislation before deciding on the next steps in the A.N.Z.U.S. dispute. This was made clear on Friday by Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Bill Hayden, after talks with United States Secretary of State, Mr George Shultz. Mr Hayden told a press conference the position on the A.N.Z.U.S. dispute was much the same as it had been for the last several months. Direct arrangements between Australia and the United States under A.N.Z.U.S. would be main-

tained, he said. ) Mr Hayden was asked I what he now saw as the ! Australian and United ■ States security commit- ! ments to New Zealand. i He replied that he could speak only for Australia, i and then referred to a mid ; to late 1940 s defence ar- , rangement between New ; Zealand and Australia - which, although archaic in ! many of its principles, had never been revoked and > which had commitments i within it. i Mr Hayden, who could not I recall the treaty’s actual I name, said it related to defence of the Pacific Islands and had been looked i at again in the light of the • United States-led invasion • of Grenada. -