wedge of NZ cheese

French bargain over a wedge of NZ cheese

From a Noumea correspondent

Two recent entertaining articles in the Noumea press highlight the Paris strategy of supporting a weaker country in order to drive a wedge into what the French regard as the Anglo-Saxon power block challenging the French presence in the Pacific.

Briefly, the articles point out what a delightful, even simple people the New Zealanders are, so desperately in need of foreign, thus French, aid and so kindly disposed to France, contrasting sharply with the aggressive, imperialistic Australians who are under no obligation to applaud French economic and political activity in the Pacific.

Pointing out that New Zealand is largely a land of farmers, the French articles emphasise the quiet, pastoral way of life of three million inhabitants who have little ambition beyond looking after their eight million cattle and 60 million sheep. In this pacifist, even “naive” temperament,

the French find none of the “obvious imperialists” of Australia and note a sharp distinction between New Zealand and Australian protests over the French nuclear tests in the Pacific.

The New Zealand opposition was quite “sincere”, and although it fol lowed “virulent Australia” it was not directed by anti-militarism, and especially “not by hatred of the French presence—on the cultural, economic and administrative levels— in waters close to their own”, Qnce “la bombe” had gone under ground, it was not difficult for New Zealand to re-establish friendly re lations with France, “warm ties which Australia has great difficulty in establishing, let alone re-establish”, And to crown it all, the French dis covered that “New Zealand is pro- French, even more so than pro- English”.

So, once the nuclear testing had

been forgotten, and the Kiwis and French had finished rubbing noses, embracing on both cheeks etc, they got down to the main business of talking dollars and cents, or in French currency gros sous.

And it is here that France finds an important role to play, with her technology capable of helping to build up an economy currently suf fering 3,000 unemployed and a 1975 balance of payments deficit of SNZI,OOO million.

But once again, the contrast is drawn with Australia: “If the un pleasantly aggressive Australian with a desire to be first, the best and to conquer, produces a constructive dynamism, (on the other hand) the relaxed kindliness of the New Zea lander remains ineffective . . . with no imagination, no dynamism to restore the economy”.

It is at this strategic point, ap parently, when New Zealand defences are low, that the French offensive must strike. Already the Paris authorities have lent a sympathetic jar to New Zealand’s pleading for continued sales of its primary pro luce to British markets within the EEC context. And now “France has he chance to carry off its first good leals in the South Pacific”. Though he contracts may be small, they :ould provide a “showcase for expert Tench technology”, a French display n the heart of the British Common vealth.

This follows upon Prime Minister bowling’s visit to Paris in February, Jlivier Stirn’s 24-hour visit to New Zealand in March, with a scheduled isit late September of Mr Segard, Tench Minister for Overseas Trade nd possibly that of French Prime Minister Jacques Chirac before the nd of the year, to formally “sign tie contracts”.

After French trade has been hit by tiree years of hostile Pacific boycotts, tie Paris government is anxious to e-launch French industry in the egion.

The targets the French are aiming or in New Zealand cannot include ranium and Concorde. However, iey include a series of 10 main pro mts, ranging from the sale of Air us for local transport to the con duction of power stations, petro hemical plant, sugar beet refinery, lectric railways, oil prospecting at ea and study grants in France.

Finally, in what seems no more lan another red herring to excite Caledonians, there are remote plans > build a nickel smelter to treat Caledonian ore in the north island f New Zealand.

Meanwhile, as a friendly gesture, lis year’s delegation of New Zea

landers visiting Noumea for the ANZAC day ceremonies in April was flown back and forth by a French naval plane based in New Caledonia.

The subsequent memorial gatherings at the Noumea war monument and the New Zealand war graves at Bourail were given exceptional publicity. Anzac Day was described as New Zealand’s national day with no indication that it is of equal significance to Australia.

Of course, in all currencies money talks big and as the French articles point out, where the franc goes there develop “common interests to defend”. The lesson is obvious in French Territories where the political struggle has now been smothered: since France controls the purse strings (through the hold on Caledonian nickel and operation of the Polynesian nuclear test base) so local political power has become irrelevant.

France has no illusions about the great potential of the Pacific Basin— that stage where she believes the future great dramas of world history will be acted out. New Caledonia’s strategic position in the operation has been well emphasised in the past: didn’t a former French governor in Noumea refer to New Caledonia as the “aircraft carrier” springboard for French sorties into the Pacific region?

France is gearing up to play a stirring role in the Pacific and in view of her offers to help overcome the “serious crisis” in the Kiwi economy, it will be interesting to watch future New Zealand diplomatic attitudes towards France.