French agents

Press, 26 July 1986, Page 20

French agents

Sir,—ln your leading article, “The end of I’affaire?” you say "neither Government emerges with credit.” Apart from the obvious fact that our Government obtained a credit of SI3M, your comment is a mean, cynical and typically prejudiced assessment of what Mr Lange has achieved in this difficult matter.

The article staggers through a quagmire of circumlocution and pompous, patronising puffery. It fails to say what the writer would have done which Mr Lange did not do. It makes the inane criticism that Mr Lange originally took a tough line on the terrorists’ release, but ultimately compromised, without admitting that, but for the tough stand, an eventual satisfactory compromise might not have been possible. Any reasonable assessment of “the end of I’affaire” would congratulate Mr Lange for achieving an honourable settlement which secured a clear apology, substantial damages, continued detention for the convicted terrorists, and no further trade damage—Yours, etc., D. J. O’ROURKE.

July 24, ,1986. [Mr Lange had two other courses: to avoid unequivocal and repeated statements against any possibility that the agents would be released; or, having made such statements, to stick to his guns. The French desire to retrieve the agents was obvious from the outset, regardless of Mr Lange’s attitude. The inevitability of yielding to bullying tactics by France does not, in our view, shower credit on the New Zealand Government, unless accepting defeat when no other course is bearable shows exceptional wisdom or strategy.—Editor.]

Sir,—ln fairness to two learned colleagues, the Prime Minister and his deputy, the French agents were not for sail. They flew.—Yours, etc., GEOFFREY DE THIER. July 24, 1986.

Sir,—This is a country where a “private” court action prevented 30 or so “non-criminal” sportsmen from leaving for South Africa. Is it also the same country where a “private” action failed to prevent two convicted terrorists from leaving? I am not dreaming am I? This is New Zealand, isn’t it?—Yours, etc., ANDREW GRANT. Tai Tapu, July 24, 1986.