A STAUNCH ALLY IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00965R000100150129-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 29, 2012
• Sequence Number: 129
• Publication Date: February 7, 1982
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

STAT
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/29: CIA-RDP90-00965R000100150129-6
C.IE A-PP:EARED THE WASHINGTON PUS I
7 February 1982
ON PAGE g,7
Jack Anderson
A Staunch Ally in the South Pacific
While the Soviets have kept up their re-
morseless pressures from Afghanistan to Latin
America, they have also not been idle in the
vast reaches of the South Pacific. Fortunately,
the Free World's flank in this strategic region is
protected by one of the United States' staun-
chest and quietest allies?New Zealand.
New Zealanders have made it their business.
to keep the Soviets out, and so far they have -
succeeded?no small feat for a nation of 3 mil-
lion isolated from its powerful allies. ? -
My associate Dale Van Atte went to New
Zealand to interview the outspoken prime
minister, Robert D. Muldoon, and the chief of
the-Security Intelligence Service, Richard Moli-
neaux. I have also had access to top-secret U.S.
intelligence reports on the low-key power strug-
gle between New Zealand and the Soviet Union
?
in the South Pacific.'
Muldcon said that, because of the limitations of
its size, New - Zealand works most effectively4
through the 13-member South Pacific Forum that
covers.the vast expanse from the Equator to ths ?
South Pole and Papua New Guinea on the west ti
the Cook Islands on the east.
If New Zealand has one primary aim, "it's to
see that the Soviet Union doesn't get a land-
based presence in that area through some kind of
association with one of the independent states."
New Zealand targets 70 percent of its foreign aid
to the independent island groups. "As long as we
keep the forum cohesive," he said, "then none of
these independent states is likely to become a
satellite of the Soviet Union."
Several years ago, Muldoon said, the Soviets
made a major effort to "get alongside one of the
governments in the South Pacific, but without suc-
cess." Currently, he said, two new governments?
in the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu (formerly the
New Hebrides)?"are a little bit tentative."
' But Muldoon added: "I'm not greatly con-
cerned' -about it, because the forum now has a
cohesiveness of its own."
? In fact, the Russians suffered some embar-
rassing rebuffs in the region when they prof-
fered development aid to some of the island
groups. Most humiliating of all has been tie re-
fusal by the 11 independent island grovin to
allow the Soviets to establish resident embas-
sies in their territory.
As for New Zealand itself, the Soviets have
been making a classic ursubtle attempt at sub-
version through the labor unions. They have
made some strides: members of the Soviet-ori-
ented Socialist Unity Party have gained leader-
ship positions in some unions.
CIA sources said the New Zealand intelligence
service is extremely capable for its size. And a
number of top-secret U.S. documents show by
their distribution list that they are shared with
New Zealand on a routine basis.
The Pentagon also considers New Zealand a
first-rate ally, and depends-on its modest military
force in future emergencies. The importance of a
dependable ally in the South Pacific is underlined
by the fact that the United States has reduced its
own strength in the region to respond to emergen-
cies elsewhere, particularly in the Persian Gulf.
Close ties between the United States and New
Zealand are likely to continue, according to intelli-
gence reports, especially with Mulgdon in power.,
rm..> F....Mr. Swell, et
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/29: CIA-RDP90-00965R000100150129-6 ?
.71