Farmers ‘will not lobby Govt to deport couple’

Press, 1 February 1986, Page 3

Farmers ‘will not lobby Govt to deport couple’

By

Patricia Herbert

in Wellington

Federated Farmers will not lobby the Government to deport the "Turenge” couple eyen if France takes trade reprisals against New Zealand, according to the federation’s president, Mr Peters Elworthy. “There is no way that we will interfere with the due process of the law,” he said from his South Canterbury farm yesterday. He was responding to an implied threat from the leader of the Rightwing French Gaullist Party, Mr Jacques Chirac, that failure to release the two spies might affect New Zealand exports to France. Mr Elworthy made it plain, however, that he did not take Mr Chirac’s threats seriously, dismissing them as “a storm in a French teacup.” “My own view is that the remarks were made for internal French politl-

cal consumption and I don’t see how they could possibly have widespread support particularly in the rest of Europe and even, I believe, in France,” he said. The Prime Minister, Mr Lange, replied to the threat by reaffirming that the New Zealand Govern,'ment would not allow the couple to be released before they had paid the price society demanded for their role in the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior. At issue is a report from the international news agency, Reuters, of an election speech given by Mr Chirac yesterday in Orleans in which he acknowledged that France owed New Zealand "apologies and compensation” for the sabotage, but otherwise had nothing conciliatory to say about the matter. Elsewhere in the address, he accused New Zealand of helping antiFrench groups and even of aiding terrorists in New Caledonia — allegations

Mr Lange described as absurd and damaging only to Mr Chirac’s credibility. Mr Lange also declared himself "not impressed" by Mr Chirac’s demand for the early release of the two spies now serving prison terms for their role In the bombing — Major Alain Mafart and Captain Dominique Prieur. "The New Zealanders would be well-advised to open negotiations for the release of the French officers who were only obeying orders,” Mr Chirac said. Mr Lange said he had consistently stated since the time of their arrest that they would have to undergo the due processes of New Zealand law “without any political interference.” That had happened, he said. “They have been convicted for their part in this terrorist attack and will serve their sentences in New Zealand." But Mr Chirac, in what Reuters described as

among the strongest comments on the dispute yet to emerge from the French Opposition, warned that the relationship between the two countries would suffer further if New Zealand did not begin deportation talks. He warned also that New Zealand benefited from the export of agricultural products to France. ;

It quoted “political sources” as saying that in the event of a Right-wing electoral victory, New Zealand’s butter and lamb trade to Europe would be used as a lever to force the early return of the two agents. Mr Lange did not comment directly on this possibility. Instead he noted with pleasure Mr Chirac’s acknowledgement that an apology' and reparation were due New Zealand and said New Zealand remained keen to restore friendly and constructive relations with France and that it remained ready “to take up the dialogue over compensation.”