Chirac,
pp. 4-6 · Read in the full issue
Dear Mr Chirac,
Sir, (This is an open letter which I wish to rely to Mr Jacques Chirac, the President of France, through your letter column).
Dear Mr Chirac, I write to you as one individual to another.
During the second world war many New Zealanders lost their lives fighting for the cause of a free world.
When France was overrun by the Nazi hordes New Zealanders fought on your behalf in the struggle to free France from tyranny. It is now fifty years since the cul mination of that drama.
Today we in New Zealand and our sur rounding neighbours in the South Pacific have a great desire for our children and their children to lead peaceful and healthy lives without being subject to the deadly threat of nuclear testing and the after effects of such testing. We want no part of nuclear armaments, nuclear wastes nuclear madness!
I ask you Mr Chirac, do you have any con sideration for our feelings on this issue?
Or do you prefer to dominate us by the power of your military might and powerful trade sanctions when we protest against France for testing nuclear weapons at Mururoa?
When your beloved France was overrun by Hitler’s Third Reich the French Resistance came into its own and fought tooth and nail to rid France of its oppressors. Do you expect us to do less and allow ourselves to
be oppressed by the deadly repercussions
of your nuclear testing in the South Pacific?
Must now France become the oppressor?
Must the juggernaut of Gaelic pride over ride the well being of the people of the South Pacific? Must untold numbers of children suffer the follies of nuclear radia tion sickness?
Do not tell me their is no danger in all this madness. Expediency dictates that your nuclear testing programme does not take place in La Belle France, but far, far away on the other side of the world!
Let sanity prevail and reason govern - take us into your high consideration by not resuming nuclear testing in this region!
The respect France gives to others is the same respect it will receive in return. I am sure New Zealanders and the people of the South Pacific nations would dearly love to respect you for your moral leadership and on this note I shall respectfully give you my highest consideration.
Martin Leo,
Papaku Road, Otahuhu, Auckland, New Zealand.