A.N.Z.U.S.

Press, 13 May 1986, Page 10

A.N.Z.U.S.

Sir, —I note your editorial footnote to the letter from Vernon Wilkinson (May 9). The peace movement has never pretended that nuclear weapons do not exist. On the contrary, the movement repeatedly questions the need for such a tremendous arsenal of mass destruction which is already sufficient to “overkill” the world’s population 40 times. Yet, still, the United States manufactures these weapons at the rate of three a day. Whose head is in the sand? — Yours, etc., R. L. PLUCK. May 9, 1986. Sir,—As far as can be ascertained, a majority of New Zealanders (not just the “Left wing” of the Labour Party) has rejected nuclear weapons. Therefore your solution (May 7) to the N.Z.-U.S. dispute about A.N.Z.U.S. is unacceptable. Even if the Americans took us back into the A.N.Z.U.S. fold they would not listen to our views on appropriate world strategy (for example, nuclear disarmament). Thus we have nothing to gain from A.N.Z.U.S. in regard to our real safety. If people in the East and West are sufficiently frightened by the effects of the Chernobyl disaster, then perhaps they will force politicians to negotiate nuclear disarmament agreements. If these goals are to be realised, however, the Russian Government will have to abandon its stupid secretiveness. — Yours, etc., COLIN BURROWS. May 8, 1986.