Congressman again casts doubts about Harewood

Press, 15 January 1986, Page 2

Congressman again casts doubts about Harewood

The future of the United States Antarctic base at Harewood appears uncertain after the departure of members of the Armed Services Committee of Congress yesterday. Congressman Samuel Stratton, chairman of the committee, said he was taking back to Congress “definite recommendations” on how the United States should react to the A.N.Z.U.S. row.

He stopped short of saying that the Harewood base would be a target of United States opposition to New Zealand’s “improper” nuclear ship ban. But he did say that New Zealand’s attitude, together with the United States’ economic problems, could affect the Harewood base.

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Cargill, said he had no idea of the committee’s recommenda-

tions, in spite of his talks with Congressman Stratton on Friday. Budgetary considerations could affect the United States base at Harewood, but the base should not be a factor in the A.N.Z.U.S. row, Mr Caygill said. Twelve members of the committee arrived in New Zealand on Friday, but have spent most of their time in Antarctica. They flew to Australia yesterday for talks with the Government there.

Asked if he would make recommendations affecting the future of the Harewood base, Congressman Stratton replied: “I think we will make some very definite recommendations when we get back. I expressed myself to Minister Caygill in forceful terms.”

Congressman Stratton was unwilling to disclose the nature of these recom-

mendations, but both he and Congressman Marjorie Holt, the minority (Republican) leader of the committee, said that the A.N.Z.U.S. row could indirectly threaten the future of the Harewood base.

They said proposed legislation to reduce the United States Budget deficit to zero by 1991 could mean an assessment of military spending priorities. Among the congressmen on the trip were members of the procurement subcommittee. This makes recommendations on defence spending, including the military aspects of the Harewood base and Antarctic programme. Congressman Holt said funds that were available would go to countries which honoured their treaty arrangements with the United States. It was “possible” that funds for the New

Zealand part of the operation would be reduced. But he said that at this stage suggestions that the United States would shift its Antarctic base from Harewood to Hobart or threaten New Zealand’s casein and lamb trade with the United States were “rumour.”

Congressman Stratton also repeated criticisms of New Zealand’s nuclear ship ban. He said it was “improper” for one country in a tripartite treaty to put limitations on other members of that treaty.

“It would also make the treaty ineffective because the real power of A.N.Z.U.S. as a military treaty rests with the United States.

“The capacity of New Zealand and Australia would not really represent any kind of credible deterrent to the Soviets and their effort to expand their power in the South Pacific.”