DENIAL BY FRANCE

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31000, 4 March 1966, Page 1

DENIAL BY FRANCE

Trade Boycott Report

(New Zealand Press Association! WELLINGTON, March 3. The French Ambassador to New Zealand (Mr J. F. Duflos) tonight denied a report that France had threatened to boycott trade with New Zealand if New Zealand continued to protest against the pending French nuclear tests in the Pacific. The report said that France had made the threat through diplomatic channels.

“I have heard nothing about it,” Mr Duflos said. “If it had been conveyed through diplomatic circles from the French Government to the New Zealand Government it would have come through me,” he said. The Ambassador, who paid courtesy calls on five Cabinet Ministers today, said the relationship between the New Zealand and French Governments was “very cordial.”

“I know there are some reserved attitudes about our nuclear tests in the Pacific, but there is absolutely no change in the friendship be-

tween France and New Zealand.” Mr Duflos said. Tomorrow the French Ambassador will call on the Dep-uty-Prime Minister (Mr Marshall). He will be given an informal Ministerial luncheon in Parliament Buildings by the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) on Monday. Since France first announced it would test nuclear devices in the Pacific, the New Zealand Government, in common with other Government, in the Pacific, has opposed the tests. The New Zealand delegation to the United Nations recently protested in the General Assembly.