Meeting over N.Z.’s A.N.Z.U.S. role

Press, 12 August 1986, Page 2

Meeting over N.Z.’s A.N.Z.U.S. role

NZPA staff correspondent San Francisco Australia and the United States meet today td determine New Zealand’s future position under the A.N.Z.U.S. pact.

Officials from both countries have made it clear the A.N.Z.U.S. treaty itself, signed 35 years ago in San Francisco, will remain in name although it has ceased functioning as a three-country arrangement. New Zealand’s status in it will be changed until it decides to allow port visits by nuclear-powered or armed ships. The exact wording that will cover the change has not been decided but should be clear after today’s meeting by political leaders. At that the United States will be represented by the Secretary of State, Mr George Shultz, and the Defence Secretary, Mr Caspar Weinberger, and Australia by its Foreign Minister, Mr Bill Hayden, and the Defence Minister,

Mr Kim Beazley.

The Prime Minister, Mr Lange, has predicted in Suva that the United States could put conditions on Australia that would affect that country’s ability to have full military ties with New Zealand. It was clear Australia regarded its military relationship with the United States as more important than the one with New Zealand, he said. A senior State Department official said yesterday the United States would not ask Australia to exert pressure on New Zealand to change its antinuclear ship stance to bring it back into A.N.Z.U.S. The official also reiterated that the United States was “very anxious” to have New Zealand return as a full partner in A.N.Z.U.S.

“We have always said that and will continue to say it. We will never cease saying it and we hope the Australians will do so as well,” he said. The official would not

be drawn on the wording that will cover New Zealand’s new position under A.N.Z.U.S. The United States has said in the past its security guarantee to New Zealand under the treaty will be withdrawn. “I think there will be something that will come out of this meeting to clarify the position of both the United States and Australia in terms of the New Zealand relationship.

I would hesitate to go beyond that at this stage,” the official said yesterday. He emphasised that the United States was determined to maintain “the closest possible relationship we can” with Australia.

The United States and Australia did not always see "eye to eye” but they certainly did in wanting' A.N.Z.U.S. to continue to be “the heart and soul” of their relationship, he said. “Both agree on the fundamental importance and significance of the A.N.Z.U.S. relationship,” said the official.