Defence

Press, 24 February 1986, Page 12

Defence

Sir, —In “The Press” today the member of Parliament for Mount Albert, Helen Clark, is quoted as saying that New Zealand’s defence policy was now firmly centred on the South Pacific and there would be no more Koreas, Vietnams or Philippines. Does this mean that New Zealand would not answer a call from the United Nations, as in Korea, and that no troops would be provided for United Nations peace-keeping forces in areas such as the Middle East? Incidentally when were our forces used in the Philippines? Does she mean Malaya’s fight with communist forces after World War II when our units an integral part Com-

monwealth Force? Would our new defence policy allow for assistance to Britain in the case of another situation such as the Falklands?—Yours, etc., M. JOHNSTON. February 18, 1986.

Sir, — I agree with Jill Wilcox and Mrs Flanagan’s letters. Our greatest danger is from becoming prisoners to the manufactured fear of a bogyman generated by the United States military industrial complex. The United States bases set up in other countries seem to be a law unto themselves and function outside the control of the host country. The September 15, 1985 issue of the "Guardian” revealed the frightening degree this has reached in the United Kingdom where secret agreements surrender vast areas to the complete control of the United States military in the event of war. The bases in Australia are used to monitor the communications of the host country not only for defence but also commercial purposes which is also a C.I.A. function within so-called friendly countries. — Yours, etc., E. L. BARCLAY. February 14, 1986.