Claims of Kremlin in peace groups denied

Press, 13 April 1988, Page 5

Claims of Kremlin in peace groups denied

' | • i • : i i i I ' j Claims by a former Chief of!Air Staff that New Zealand peace groups were a prime weapon of the Soviet leadership were “codswoliop” according to the secretary of the New Zealand Nuclear-free Peacemaking Association, Mr Larry Ross, j ■ i ■ .' I ! '

Speaking to ain adult learning programme seminar] at Paraparaumu on Monday, Air Vice-Mar-shall lan Morrison told ] delegates that-the World Peace Council was funded i and directed from the ! Kremliii. The council had ] established affiliates I world-wide — including j the New Zealand affiliate . which farmed in 1976. Peace activists iwere I either sincere idealists or ■ manipulators from the ranks of New- Zealand I communists or ' fellow travellers, he said.

"Once again. Air ViceMarshall (Morrison ; has made a vicious and unjust attack on the peace movement by claiming that we are a prime weapon of Soviet leadership. That is absolute codswoliop | and he knows! it,” Mr Ross said. | “It is the peace movement which is: preventing human annihilation i and helping open up the communist world to freedom and democracy.’ ■ ; Air I Morrison’s ; claims I that New Zealand’s I nuclear-

free policies had weakened the West’s deterrent stand were also incorrect. “In fact, all Slates agreed at special sessions on disarmament in 1978 and 1982 to six resolutions -■

favouring the establishment of nuclear-free zones as important disarmament steps. Nuclearfree zones help cure our world of the nuclear disease and make it safe for humanity,” said Mr Ross.

“Two , in-depth studies by journalists and one by the United States’ State

Department have failed to find significant communist influence and no evidence of communist leadership in the peace movement.”

Air Vice-Marshall Morrison could not support his false accusations, said Mr Ross. “However, it is a. free country and perhaps he should keep in hunting for his elusive communists, maybe, one day, he will find one.”

Air Vice-Marshal’s comments, page 31