U.K. satisfied with N.Z. over Rushdie

Press, 27 February 1989, Page 10

U.K. satisfied with N.Z. over Rushdie

By

TONY VERDON,

London correspondent

The British Foreign Office is satisfied with the New Zealand Government’s belated stand against the Iranian threat to kill the author, Salman Rushdie. A spokesman said the British Government had been concerned about initial comments by the Prime Minister, Mr Lange, on the Rushdie affair. The New Zealand High Commissioner in London, Mr Bryce Harland, was summoned to the Foreign Office and told of the concern about New Zealand’s non-commital response. The British were upset about Mr Lange’s com-

ment that' he could not see why New Zealand farmers should go out of

business “because of a threat made to a book writer in London.” The Minister of State at the Foreign Office who oversees British relations with Iran, Mr William Waldergrave, discussed the matter with Mr Harland. However, by the time the meeting had taken place, the New Zealand Government had finally registered its concern about the threats to the author. The Foreign Office spokesman said Mr Harland had been told that the British Government had noted the subsequent statement of concern in Wellington.