ANZUS Talks Delayed; Treaty ‘in Name Only’

Prime Minister Bob Hawke today announced the indefinite postponement of this year’s ANZUS council meeting, saying the defense alliance among Australia, the United States and New Zealand is now a treaty “in name only.”

He said the Australian decision, as host nation, to postpone July’s meeting was made because of the rift between New Zealand and the United States over New Zealand’s ban on visits of nuclear-powered or armed warships.

Although he stressed that the ANZUS alliance remained, Hawke said, “It is not an unfair description to say that as a tripartite agreement, it is a treaty in name only.”

Since New Zealand enforced its anti-nuclear policy by refusing a request for the destroyer Buchanan to visit Wellington last month, Washington has pulled out of several joint military exercises, withdrawn invitations for New Zealand to participate in others and curtailed intelligence exchanges.

Alliance Jeopardized

The United States has maintained that the ban on nuclear-capable warships is jeopardizing the 34-year-old alliance, but New Zealand says the policy does not affect its commitment to the Western alliance or conventional defense cooperation with allies.

Hawke said in light of the stance taken by both nations, it was clear that the holding of a regular ANZUS council meeting at the present time would be impractical.

In Wellington, New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer said the postponement was “regrettable but understandable in the circumstances.”

No British Action

New Zealand Prime Minister David Lange, on a six-day visit to Britain, met today with Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who ruled out any British action against New Zealand over its nuclear ban.

She made clear at a 45-minute meeting that she shared President Reagan’s irritation over the ban but said she would not join the United States in taking reprisals.