visits W. Samoa
p. 21 · Read in the full issue
Nuclear cruiser visits W. Samoa
The U.S.S. Texas, an 11,000ton nuclear-powered, guided missile cruiser, arrived in West ern Samoa on May 4. She had come from Tonga on a goodwill visit, and is currently deployed with the U.S. Seventh Fleet.
The Texas employs a first-of its-kind, fully-integrated combat system using the latest com puter technology, weapons sys tems, sensors and command and control techniques. Her weapons include surface-to-air missiles, Harpoon, surface-to surface missiles, and anti-sub marine rockets and torpedos.
She also has two 5-inch guns.
Captain Frederick Lawler, the U.S. defence attache in Wellington, whose area of re sponsibility includes Fiji, West ern Samoa and Tonga, said: ’’The Texas is here on a good will visit and as far as New Zealand is concerned, they can take this visit any way they like.
The United States has a strong interest in the Pacific island states and in the security, stabil ity of this part of the world.”
Captain Lawler expressed di sappointment over the New Zealand prime minister’s atti tude towards nuclear ship visits which, he said, seemed to rise from political perceptions on Mr Lange’s part. Captain Lawler conceded that the New Zealand public was concerned about all things nuclear and said Mr Lange saw himself as respon ding to that concern.
But the decision made ANZUS inoperable and it was hoped that someday the N.Z. government would change its policy and restore port access to all ships of the U.S. fleet, he said.
Western Samoa’s prime minister, Tofilau Eti Alesana, said he did not believe that New Zealand should look at the visit of the U.S.S. Texas as a snub from the United States. West ern Samoa had not changed its policy on nuclear vessels. The U.S.A., Australia and New Zea land were allies to Western Samoa, he said, ’’and 1 do not feel that this visit will cause any danger to Samoa.”
Samoa should assist any other countries which were friendly, the prime minister
said.
Before the warship arrived, a cable had been sent to New Zealand, to the U.S. ambassa dor, saying that if a snub to New Zealand was intended, then permission for the U.S.S.
Texas to come to Samoa was withdrawn, said Tofilau Eti.
Some New Zealanders in Samoa applied for a permit to demonstrate against the visit, but no demonstrations were held.