Diplomat’s N-ship optimism

Press, 25 January 1986, Page 5

Diplomat’s N-ship optimism

NZPA staff correspondent LondonN New Zealand’s nuclear ship visit problems with the United States were “quite small and definitely not insurmountable,” said the New Zealand High Commissioner in London, Mr Bryce Harland, to British businessmen. Mr Harland has been having discussions with British Ministers and officials over Wellington’s anti-nuclear policy since he arrived in London to take up New Zealand’s top diplomatic post three months ago. Britain was invited along with the A.N.Z.U.S.

treaty partners, the United States and Australia, to comment on legislation now before Parliament and -which Whitehall wants changed to let Royal Navy ship visits continue. Mr Harland told the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry that the Government was ’’looking for a way of carrying out its own policy without challenging that of the United States and the United Kingdom.” The aim was to “open the door for the resumption of American and British naval visits to New

Zealand." "New Zealand remains what it has always been — a strong supporter of Britain and America, and a committed member of the Western alliance, he said. ’’We are ready and willing to do our bit in maintaining the security of our part of the world. ”It is not an area of nuclear confrontation, so we see no need for any one to bring nuclear weapons into New Zealand. ’’The United States has indicated that it is not seeking to do so. The area of difference between us and the Americans is

therefore quite small and is definitely not insurmountable.” Mr Harland told the businessmen that the New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament and Arms Control Bill had been referred to a Parliamentary select committee, which would begin work about the end of February. He emphasised that the Government had shown determination in pursuing its anti-nuclear policy, and likened it to the way Wellington was ’’sticking to its guns” on economic policy.

Mr Harland has had a string of meetings with

British Cabinet Ministers since he arrived in London, starting with the Prime Minister, Mrs Thatcher, and including the Agriculture Minister, Mr Michael Jopling, the former Defence Secretary, Michael Heseltine, his successor, Mr George Younger, ’ the Foreign Minister, Sir Geoffrey Howe, and the Trade Minister, Mr Leon Brittan. He has talked with the Labour Party’s leader, Mr Neil Kinnock, the Social Democratic Party leader, Mr David Owen, established contact with the Liberal Party, visited Ireland, and plans a trip to Nigeria, to which he is also accredited as ambassador.

Mr Harland gave the London chamber a frank assessment of changes in the New Zealand economy, saying ’’the signs of the economic slow-down are clear, and the Prime Minister has said that the situation will worsen before it improves”. Wellington will soon have a face-to-face assessment of Britain from Mr Harland. He went from his former post as permanent representative at the United Nations in New York directly to London and is due in New Zealand next week for talks in Wellington and a holiday.