The World - News from Dec. 11, 1986

Australian Foreign Minister Bill Hayden warned New Zealand not to expect Australia to fill the void left by removal of the U.S. security umbrella for New Zealand. Hayden, arriving in Wellington for talks with Prime Minister David Lange, issued a statement disagreeing with New Zealand’s ban on port visits by nuclear-armed or nuclear-powered ships, which led the United States to suspend security guarantees to New Zealand under the ANZUS alliance. Lange has reassured New Zealanders that Australia would make up for the lost U.S. defense, but Hayden said: “Australia regards its alliance relationship with the United States . . . as of prime importance to its security. Equally, for obvious practical reasons, Australia cannot realistically be expected to provide a substitute for the United States as a security partner for New Zealand.”