Treaty a dead horse – former defence chiefs

Press, 21 December 1985, Page 13

Treaty a dead horse - former defence chiefs

PA Wellington Three former defence chiefs have described the A.N2.U.S. Treaty as a “dead horse” and said the Government had painted itself into an isolated corner with its anti-nuclear legislation. ' • ‘ The three former defence chiefs, Vice-Admiral Sir Neil Anderson, Air Marshall Sir Richard Bolt, and Lieutenant General Sir Leonard Thornton, said they were moved to speak out once more by the introduction of the legislation to Parliament. They are from a group of 17 former defence heads who prompted the Prime Minister’s much-publicised

“geriatric generals” comment in early October when the group spoke out against the Government’s nuclear ships ban. The three said the larger group was not planning a further statement, but that the views of those who opposed the October statement had done little to diminish the group’s concern.

In a statement the three former defence chiefs-of-staff said they had no quarrel with the maiiin content of the proposed anti-nuclear legislation, but they objected to the clauses affecting ship and aircraft visits. It is painfully obvious that the introduction of the legislation at this stage has

exacerbated an already strained relationship with our allies,” they said. “The Government has painted itself, and all of us, into an isolated corner.” The statement said the United States saw the present situation as a renunciation of its special relationship with New Zealand, and the British and Australians found the Government’s actions an embarrassment to the previously strong “family’ relationships. Full defence co-operation with Australia — described as “fundamental to New Zealand’s future security” — was being placed under strain. F-’\”

The Government would find that New Zealand had neither the resources, nor the desire to stand alone in matters of defence and that there was “no real alternative to a strong collective security arrangement with allies.” /? . ' The thrCe said the'viability of the A.N.Z.U.S. Treaty depended oh the political will of its 'participants.lt meaht little to talk about the legal obligations and withdrawal processes of the treaty. s "It is the relationship within A.N.Z.U.S. that has been damaged, and if feelings of trust:and mutual benefit have evaporated on our side of the table, then for all practical purposes, A.N.Z.U.& is a dead horse,” the statement said.

“Disposing of the body may take a little time.”

The former defence chiefs said they took no comfort from the recent statement by the American Secretary of State, Mr Shultz, that A.N2.U.S. would be left in place in the hope of a change of Government. International alliances and the practical arrangements which they involved could not be switched off and on by the fluctuations of the ballot box, they said. “An exchange of letters between the United States and Australia, as already foreshadowed, will serve as the effective death certificate for A.NJZ.U.S., and we should be left with the lifeless form of an expired alliance.

“Our two ex-allies would soon , learn to do without New Zealand’s participation and the idea of re-integrat-ing a dubious partner would have little appeal. That is why every effort should be made to preserve what we now have,” the statement said. ■' • ’■,. ■ ■‘y ■' ■

The three said they would make their views, known to the Defence Review Committee, which’ , was to receive written submissions in February, and urged others to do the same.

“It is our hope that anyone who feels as we do will realise that the anti-nuclear legislation has not yet been passed and will regard those clauses which refer to ship visits as no more than a basis for discussion, open to being discarded or amended,” they said.