Lange stand has backing of Jackson

Press, 2 December 1985, Page 6

Lange stand has backing of Jackson

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, the American civil rights leader, has praised the antinuclear stance of the Prime Minister, Mr Lange. Interviewed by satellite in Chicago on television’s “Sunday” programme last evening, Mr Jackson said: “The position Mr Lange has taken puts him at the apex of the triangle of moral leadership in high places.” Mr Jackson told the interviewer, Rodney Bryant, that by choosing the human race over the nuclear race Mr Lange had started a process of encouraging other countries to say no to nuclear weapons. Mr Lange had a high measure of moral integrity that made him “a real authoritative force in the world to be respected.” “He has my respect. Very much.”

Mr Jackson said one reason he was glad of Mr Lange’s anti-nuclear stand was that nuclear war could be started by accident and ,not design. He also said that Governments round the world, in-

eluding. the United States Government, should respect the sovereign right of countries such as New “Zealand to make a stand. .J- . Mr Jackson also referred to the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior, calling.-it an act of terrorism and war. '

The fact that the Labour Government had taken the etion that war was no _;er an alternative in a nuclear age, and that the.. Rainbow Warrior was attacked, just added to the.. - credibility of JJr Lange arid >. of New Zealand as a country, he said, , 1- : The 23-minute interview was conducted on TVNZ*s new Channel 9 satellite facility. . . r