N.Z. awaits U.S. thaw in relations

Press, 27 June 1989, Page 8

N.Z. awaits U.S. thaw in relations

Political reporter

The Government will wait for the United States to make the first move towards a diplomatic thaw, in spite of indications from the United States Secretary of Defence, Mr Richard Cheney, that he would be prepared to meet New Zealand Government Ministers.

The Prime Minister, Mr Lange, said yesterday that he was at a loss to understand the American position on high-level diplomatic contact. Mr Cheney made his comments during an Australian television interview, saying he had a “basic standard rule of thumb” to see any allied leader who requested a meeting.

The reason he had not seen Mr Lange in Washington recently was that Mr Lange had not asked for a meeting.

But officials from the United States Defence Department immediately contradicted Mr Cheney, saying it Was United States policy not to allow such

contact while New Zealand’s antinuclear policy was in place. Mr Lange yesterday described Mr Cheney as an apparently “straightforward, commonsense person” whose response had been an “untutored” one. “Unhappily, officials within the Department of Defence in the United States were quick to put the kibosh on that.”

Mr Lange also revealed that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Marshall, would not be meeting the United States Secretary of State, Mr James Baker, in Brunei this week, although both would be there at the same time.

Mr Lange said he did not intend writing to Mr Cheney or to initiate publicly any response to the friendly remarks.

“I’m perfectly prepared to see Mr Cheney at any time if he wants to see me. It’s not the New Zealand Government that won’t meet them,” said Mr Lange.