The Haystacks Hit the Wind

Pim Opinion

Just in case any doubt was left anywhere that the Pacific Islands have become, rapidly, of very much greater significance to the super powers, let us draw attention to the visit to Fiji of a party of Soviet diplomats, clearly usting themselves to be nice.

Their reception by Fiji’s Prime Minister, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, 'as also friendly. Of course, this does not mean that Ratu Mara is bout to pack his children off to Patrice Lumumba University in loscow, nor even take up steady correspondence with the remlin. But it does indicate that he has decided to ease his revious, very stem, opposition to commerce with Soviet immunists.

He also appears now to have put aside the unpleasant memories f the last general election when he accused the Soviet Union of üb-staking the National Federation Party. Nobody ever got to the attorn of that extraordinary business. The NFP’s leadership, hich at that time included Ratu Mara’s former associate, Sir Vijay ingh, was shrill (and predictably legalistic and confused) in its snial. There was embarrassment, too, in Indian diplomatic circles, id hasty efforts by the government of Mrs Indira Ghandi to show ean hands.

But the very fact that Ratu Mara, the elder statesman of the outh Pacific, is being seen to have buried at least some of the atchet, is a matter of considerable moment in the region’s politics, ike the fishing deal struck by President Tabai of Kiribati, it should 2 taken as notice that the West may no longer take the small land nations for granted.

The Russians did rather well on their Suva visit; perhaps even ther better than they had hoped.

The CTC cruise ships which were banned from Fiji ports after e Soviet invasion of Afghanistan are to resume calls which will : of benefit to Fiji’s important tourist industry at a time when it is 2ling the effects of the reduced Australian and New Zealand >llars. (The Soviets are still in Afghanistan, but it is looking a Drse quagmire, even, than Vietnam).

More significantly than the tourist ship arrangement, the men from Moscow talked, apparently in fairly substantial terms, about trade, aid and fishing deals with Fiji. More than enough, it seems, for the Soviets to propose, and Fiji to accept, a visit fairly soon from the USSR trade commissioner in Canberra to run through the finer details and perhaps even show off a contract or two.

Fiji is perhaps the most sophisticated of the Pacific Island countries, and Ratu Mara one of the region’s most careful politicians. He may be trusted, therefore, to do nothing likely to upset regional stability. At the same time he is giving notice of the Islands’ independence of thought and action; of their need for proper recognition and support by the Western alliance with which they have for so long aligned themselves.

In general, of course, the islands have been reasonably well attended by Western countries. While the West might need the friendship of the islands, many of the small nations, and Fiji more than most, have received a fair measure of western support, particularly from Australia and New Zealand.

But it does appear that the time has arrived when some of the relationships formed, in an almost casual way, over the decades, might receive a bit of polishing here and there. Most particularly one thinks of the regional fishing treaty with which the US has been toying for so long.

In the end, of course, the islands have to choose which road they need to follow and, President Tabai and others notwithstanding, most continue to see their natural linkages lying in the West.

Indeed, while Ratu Mara might have been smiling, and offering the Soviet Ambassador a second cup of tea, he also, during that visit, let it be known that some things were still well off-limits.

When the Russians, rather clumsily, one felt, made an appointment to call on the headquarters of the Labor Party of Fiji, Ratu Mara let them know it wouldn’t be taken as a friendly gesture.

The Soviet Embassy men promptly developed diplomatic belly ache and took to their beds.

It brought cries of outrage from Dr Timoci Bavadra, and others of the Labor Party - but it also showed who is still boss in Fiji.