defence assumptions’

Loss of US contact ‘alters defence assumptions’

New Zealand’s committee of inquiry on defence will conduct hearings and com mission a poll in order to assess public opinion.

The discussion paper published by the government asks: What future for

Anzus?

It rehearses the arguments as follows: •Does ANZUS provide effective secur ity for New Zealand? •Does ANZUS make a nuclear attack on New Zealand more or less likely? •Has ANZUS helped maintain a strategic balance in the Pacific? •Does New Zealand need the ANZUS military technology, training and intelli gence? •What kind of relationship does New Zealand want with the US and is ANZUS important to that relationship? •Would New Zealand’s trade be harmed if ANZUS folded? •What effect would an end of the alliance have on New Zealand’s wider relationship with the US and its other allies.? •Would the end of ANZUS mean the end of New Zealand’s commitment to collective security, or are there other options such as developing closer co operation with the Pacific islands and Australia?

The NZ government admits to being

hurt by the US decision to end naval visits and cut off intelligence and logisti cal co-operation. “The loss of contact with larger military forces and of the opportunity to keep up with military developments elsewhere must inevitably alter our defence assumptions and re quirements,” according to the paper.

The government, however, commits itself to “continue to seek a solution which restores a constructive relation ship with the US and ensures that nuclear weapons do not enter New Zealand.”

It continues: “It is the government’s view that nuclear weapons have no relevance to our defence. New Zealand will never acquire nuclear weapons and does not ask friendly powers to use them on its behalf. Nuclear weapons are not relevant to the kinds of threats which might confront New Zealand or any other country in the region.

“Indeed, it is the government’s view that it is the nuclear weapons them selves that present the real, and poten tially catastrophic, threat. That is why nuclear weapons have been banned from New Zealand and that is why New Zealand is a strong supporter of the South Pacific Nuclear Weapon Free Zone.”