Lange’s Nuke

Bombshell

Ed Rampell reports

NEW ZEALAND Prime Minister David Lange (above) has told a Hawaii audience that under cer tain conditions, US military craft would be permitted within the jurisdiction of New Zealand.

Speaking at Hawaii’s East-West Centre, the Kiwi statesman said: “In formulating our own ban on nuclear ships we took care not to directly confront the United States policy of neither confirming nor denying the presence of nuclear weapons on their ships or aircrafts. Our anti-nuclear legis lation requires me as Prime Minister to make the assessment. There is no require ment for any declaration by the visiting ship or aircraft.” Mr Lange asserted that, for example, “A US aircraft carrier can come to New Zealand if I assess that it is non-nuclear.”

Prime Minister Lange was visiting Ha waii on his way home from the CHOGM meeting at Vancouver, Canada. His ad dress at the prestigious Honolulu-based academic institution was on “South Pa cific Security and Development: A Small State Perspective”. Mr Lange stressed that his country pursues an independent def ence posture based on its location in the Pacific region, as opposed to following a course established in Washington to serve American strategic interests. However, he stated that “our policy [should not] be seen as anti-American. Rather, our policy is against nuclear weapons and for the se curity of the South Pacific.”

On other matters, the PM went on to “dismiss the USSR as an imminent threat” to Oceania and denounced the Fiji coup and Brigadier Rabuka.

Prime Minister Lange also referred to New Caledonia as “New Zealand’s closest neighbour”, and warned Paris that despite the presence of 8000 troops, “the aspira tions of the indigenous population of the territory to follow their neighbours in moving to self-government will not be suppressed indefinitely. We can only hope that France will be reminded of the les sons of its own recent history before it is too late.” □