Bill on N.Z. backed

Press, 26 February 1987, Page 15

Bill on N.Z. backed

NZPA staff correspondent Washington

The Reagan Administration has backed a proposed law cutting New Zealand from benefits accorded United States allies and considers it an appropriate response to New Zealand’s enacting anti-nuclear legislation. In a letter to a Republican member of the House of Representatives, Mr

William Broomfield, President Reagan’s National Security Adviser, Mr Frank Carlucci, said the Administration would not oppose a bill Mr Broomfield had introduced in January to remove New Zealand from military, assistance and arms export preferences because of the A.N.Z.U.S. break.

Mr Carlucci said the Administration would pre-

fer the proposed law to be passed after New Zealand enacted its anti-nuclear legislation so that the Congressional move would be seen as an appropriate United States response. The letter had been sent to Mr Broomfield, the senior Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, last week, said Mr Dave Addington, the committee’s chief Republican counsel.