Howe remarks distasteful’

Press, 7 May 1987, Page 47

Howe remarks distasteful’

The New Zealand Nuclear-Free Zone Committee described comments by the British Foreign Secretary, Sir Geoffrey Howe, as shocking and distasteful. “New Zealanders have loyally supported Britain in its time of need in the pasL Proud of their nuclear-free stand, they will find Sir Geoffrey Howe’s barely concealed interference in their election-year politics shocking and distasteful,” said Messrs John Gallagher and Larry Ross, as spokesmen. “The British Foreign Secretary should be seen as acting in co-ordination with the United States Reagan Administration in an attempt to bludgeon New Zealand into a global

East-West line-up of nuclear missiles.” Sir Geoffrey’s nuclear deterrence was unstable and constituted the great- v est threat to the human* race today, they said. "No price is worth pay-' ing to revert to it" “Without becoming tied, up in the northern hem!** sphere’s problems. in s a nuclear A.N.Z.U.S., New* Zealand could get more: support from more Governments by helping reduce tensions as a peace-, promoting nation. I “Europe has four suck’ nations, Switzerland, Sweden, Finland and Aus-, tria, which are respected' and used by the Governments of East and West' alike, including Sir Geoffrey’s.”