‘Port visits essential to A.N.Z.U.S.’

Press, 18 April 1979, Page 6

‘Port visits essential to A.N.Z.U.S.’

PA Wellington The United States’ ability to fulfil its commitments under the A.N.Z.U.S. alliance and assist in maintaining South Pacific security would be hampered if it did not get the co-operation and support of New Zealand in joint exercises and port visits, the retiring American Ambassador, Mr Armistead I. Selden Jnr, said in Wellington yesterday. “The co-operation and support which the Government of New Zealand has provided to United States forces in joint exercises and port visits are important contributions to the credibility of the alliance, just as are similar contributions by Australia,” he told a news conference. “Without such co-opera-tion and support, the ability of the United States to fulfil its commitments under the A.N.Z.U.S. alliance and to assist in maintaining security in the South Pacific region would be hampered.” Mr Selden, who was making what he described as a definitive statement about the A.N.Z.U.S. relationship authorised by the United States Government; said the alliancp was more important than ever in the light of recent events in Indo-China and the continued build-up of Soviet military strength in Asia and the Pacific. “The United States is also increasing the capabilities of its air and naval forces in the Pacific to sustain the] confidence of four friends and allies in the United States strategic posture,” the; Ambassador said. “A.N.Z.U.S. is an integral: part of this strategic pos-j ture.” Mr Selden, replying to questions, said his statement; had “no relation whatso-! ever” with the talks the! Leader of the Opposition (Mr I Rowling) had with United States officials in Washington last week. He said he had been authorised to make the statement on A.N.Z.U.S. when he was in Washington in January. Mr Row’ling told the United States Deputy Secretary of State (Mr Warren Christopher),, who led the United States delegation at last year’s A.N.Z.U.S. council meeting, that a Labour Government would not relax its stand against visits by American nuclear-powered warships. The Americans were obviously unhappy with Labour policy on this and the establishment of a nuclear wea-pons-free zone and he was sure they would push for their reversal, Mr Rowling said after his talks. When Mr Selden was asked if New Zealand’s membership of A.N.Z.U.S. would be at risk if a future Govern-: ment banned visits by| United States nuclear ships,! he replied: “Well I couldn’t | speculate on that. I would! simply say that.my Govern-] ment feels, and I have so; stated, that if our ships and;

our planes and our men are not allowed to work with the forces of New Zealand, then it would hamper what we see as our responsibilities under that treaty.”

[ The Ambassador said 40 [per cent of the United States . [Navy was nuclear-powered • [and he expected a much [greater percentage of the [Navy would use nuclear power in the future. Mr Selden also said the United States had a firm commitment to a liberal trading system. The success of that was shown by the fact the United States provided more than SSOOM in exnort revenue to New Zealand last year, he; told a news conference. The United States took; about 75 per cent of New [Zealand’s beef, and about] lone quarter of its cheese ex-1 [ports. “Purchases of this magni-j tude are certainly not those[' of a highly-protectionist, in-l[ ward-looking country,” Mr! Selden said. h

New Zealand manufacturers, who were concentrating their sales drive in California, realised that the United States was basically a free and open market

where the essential ingredients of price, service, and quality determined success. Mr Selden said some anxiety had been voiced in New Zealand about America’s proposed countercyclical legislation for beef imports. “In this respect, I would • urge that before becoming unduly alarmed you read the proposed legislation carefully and look at the predictions for U.S. beef production,” he said. “If a counter-cyclical law [is passed, it will have a mini[mum floor which will guar-) • antee New Zealand beef exporters stable access to our I market. [ “Depending on the form [of the final legislation, New ; Zealand should be assured lof selling substantially what I its average sales have been ‘over the past’ five years.”