WELLINGTON -- Prime Minster Jim Bolger arrived home Monday to a barrage of questions over a report purportedly from a U.S. intelligence agency saying he was trying to weaken New Zealand's anti-nuclear policy.
The report, released by the New Zealand Press Association and widely published Monday, said it had obtained a copy of a telex to this effect, sent between sections of the U.S. agency, which it said appeared to be genuine.
The Press Association said it obtained a copy of the telex sent between sections of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency but did not reveal its source. The Press Association said the telex was stamped 'confidential' and 'not releasable to foreign nationals.'
The telex contained an assessment of Bolger's decision Oct. 14 to set up a special committee to review the country's anti-nuclear ships ban following President Bush's announcement that nuclear weapons would be withdrawn from U.S. surface ships.
'The decision to form a committee is part of a continuing effort by Bolger to weaken or skirt anti-nuclear laws that have strained U.S.-New Zealand relations,' the telex said.
Bolger said he knew nothing of the authenticity of the report but said it would be a matter of concern if U.S. intelligence saw him wanting to 'skirt' the anti-nuclear legislation as reported.
'If they are suggesting, as I take it the document suggests, that this is some surreptitious way the New Zealand government is moving, well then, they are wrong,' Bolger said.
The telex said Bolger saw the laws banning nuclear powered ships as the only remaining issue blocking the resumption of the Australia and New Zealand-United States (ANZUS) Pact, from which the U.S. excluded New Zealand in 1987 because of its ban on nuclear armed or powered ships entering its ports.
'Bolger is clearly trying to balance domestic political concern about nuclear safety with U.S. opposition to Wellington's anti-nuclear legislation,' the telex said.
'The Prime Minister's National Party may support an effort to 'modify' the laws that restrict nuclear powered vessels. However, whether the opposition Labor Party will be co-operative is doubtful.
'It (Labor) will most likely try to block Bolger's efforts. Nonetheless, the Prime Minister, who is expected to bring the politically volatile issue before the public in an incremental fashion, hopes information supplied by the special committee will swing support his way,' the telex said.
Opposition Leader Mike Moore immediately leaped to the attack, labelling the leaked telex as 'a disgrace and a betraytal of New Zealanders.'
'It talks about the National Government trying to change New Zealand's anti-nuclear policy through stealth in an incremental fashion, ' he said, adding that the report sounded accurate.
The Press Association said the telex was stamped 'confidential' and 'not releasable to foreign nationals'. It did not reveal its source.
Bolger was expected to face concerted questioning Monday on his return from a three-week trip abroad, during which he attended the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Zimbabwe, followed by visits to Kenya, Egypt and Europe.