Former US senator comes to Lockwood Smith's aid

Lockwood Smith

The former United States senator who led a delegation to New Zealand last year, Don Nickles, last night came out in defence of National MP Lockwood Smith over the nuclear ships row.

Mr Nickles expressed disappointment that confidential minutes of a meeting involving senior National MPs and visiting US politicians had been released by Foreign Minister Phil Goff and were being used to score points.

"I am somewhat surprised and disappointed that minutes of our meeting are being used in this manner," Mr Nickles said.

"Leaders and allies should be able to have confidential discussions.

"I do not remember Dr Smith suggesting anything about a US think-tank getting involved and I certainly don't recall Dr Smith suggesting anything inappropriate during the meeting."

Mr Nickles retired last year after 24 years in the Senate.

Mr Goff produced a minute in Parliament on Tuesday taken by an unnamed Foreign Affairs official suggesting Dr Smith sought the senator's assistance to get an American think-tank to help with a New Zealand campaign to sway public opinion on the nuclear ships ban.

Mr Nickles is reported in the minute as responding that it was an internal issue and should be left to a New Zealand think-tank.

Mr Nickles' comments add weight to National's allegations that the minutes are not accurate. The original notes have been destroyed.

Deputy leader Gerry Brownlee told the Herald last night he believed the Foreign Affairs official had been politically motivated in forwarding the confidential notes to Mr Goff.

The issue is proving to be a difficult one for leader Don Brash and Dr Smith to handle: both of them are thought to be privately sympathetic to a repeal of the ban on nuclear propulsion.

A previously released minute recorded Dr Brash as saying the ban on nuclear propulsion would be "gone by lunchtime".

Mr Brownlee has taken over management of it. Instead of denying the statement had been made, he gave a context for the discussion.

"At the time of the meeting we were in the middle of a thorough review of the relationship with the US."

Dr Smith made contradictory statements on radio yesterday as to whether he might have talked about think-tanks or not.

Speaking to the Herald, he said he might have used the words "think-tank" but in a different context to that portrayed by Mr Goff.

"All I was talking about was how we could get accurate information to put in front of people, yet the impression was given by Goff that I proposed some think-tank should fund a campaign - which is totally false."

Dr Smith released all he had been given by Foreign Affairs from the discussions, including a note saying the meeting had discussed the Prime Minister's comments the previous year about the Iraq war - she conveyed an apology to President Bush for saying it would never have happened if Democrat Al Gore had been elected President.

Mr Brownlee had nothing to hide on the issue.

The suggestion that National had sought US funding or assistance to change the public's perception on the nuclear ships ban was "malicious".

He challenged the Government to issue a full transcript of its conversations with the six senators "and we challenge Helen Clark to release the secret apology she gave to the US on New Zealand's behalf".

Helen Clark said through a spokeswoman: "The Government is sure the National Party, in its meeting with the senators, was only too happy to undermine the Government's position on Iraq, with complete disregard for the public's support for the Government stance."

National's meeting notes

The National Party yesterday released notes of a meeting with United States senators 18 months ago. In the delegation were budget committee chairman Senator Don Nickles, senators Gordon Smith (Oregon), Jon Kyl (Arizona), Conrad Burns (Montana), Judd Gregg (New Hampshire) and Saxby Chambliss (Georgia).

The notes released yesterday read:

Meeting between US Congressional Delegation ('Codel Nickles') and Dr Don Brash and Dr Lockwood Smith. The following is a summary account of the meeting (held on 10 January 2004) between Dr Brash and Dr Smith and US Codel Nickles during the latter's visit to New Zealand. It is drawn from the Ministry's cabled report on that visit. It omits those comments made during the meeting by Dr Smith, which have already been conveyed to him.

Following introductory comments the Codel discussed with Drs Brash and Smith the US fiscal situation (including as it related to the war in Iraq, the exchange rate and the responsibilities of the Senate Budget Committee).

Senator Smith spoke about his affection for New Zealand. He referred to the Prime Minister's comments the previous year concerning the Iraq war.

He referred to the role that the nuclear issue played in the bilateral relationship, and there was an ensuing discussion of this matter which traversed the National Party's approach and possible solutions. The Codel noted that this was an internal matter for NZ.

Senator Nickles expressed his support for a Working Holiday Scheme.

He noted that the Codel was made up of Senators with a wide range of committee responsibilities of relevance to NZ should negotiation of an FTA (free trade agreement) commence.

He expressed appreciation for NZ's contributions to Operation Enduring Freedom and said he was impressed by our work in the South Pacific.

Following introductory remarks, Dr Brash explained his political history and philosophy and introduced Dr Smith.

Dr Smith explained the current study being done by the National Party. If the study came to the same conclusion as it did in 1992, the National Party would look seriously at the nuclear legislation.

Dr Smith asked if getting rid of the nuclear propulsion issue would guarantee an FTA with the US?

Dr Smith asked whether it would be worthwhile for a US think-tank to assist with the public campaign in New Zealand, following the party study/review?

Dr Smith noted that he is regularly in the US and has met with Kelly, Armitage and Ives to discuss these issues and he hoped that he is able to count on the senators for further discussions in the future.

Senator Nickles replied he was retiring but he was sure that his colleagues would be happy to meet him again in the future.

- NZPA