Category: Foreign Policy

Australia had a big stake in the New York Primaries held in mid-September. The defeat of Stephen Solarz means the defeat of one of Australia’s most important allies in the Congress.

On a Saturday morning in July 1984, shortly before the elections in New Zealand, I held a morning tea at my office for two visiting US Congressmen, Stephen Solarz and Joel Pritchard.

It was a good thing that Parliament was recalled last week as Australia’s response to the Gulf war needed to be discussed, debated and adopted. It is true that some divisions have opened on the government side. We have heard much about some Labor MPs defying the ALP Caucus’s endorsement of the Gulf resolution and abstaining on the vote. This embarrassed the government, but not much.

This Chapter argues that even though the pro-Soviet elements of the New Zealand and Australian labor movements have devoted themselves to a major effort to win allies and neutralize opposition to their ideas in the Southwest Pacific, the degree of influence and popular support they have achieved is limited. Even so, this Chapter also proposes that there is no ground for complacency about the foothold they have gained in the region.

In the carnival atmosphere in Tiananmen Square last May one red banner fluttered defiantly and proudly. Under the banner of the Workers’ Autonomous Federation, hundreds of Chinese workers in Beijing demonstrated their support for democracy and freedom of association.

Under the heading “The CIA’s long history in the Pacific” (Herald, May 19) David McKnight produces nothing to sustain his case. He alleges there is a direct connection or conspiracy between the CIA and the Asian American Free Labor Institute (AAFLI) and its activities in Fiji. By implication this has something to do with the current situation in Fiji.

The prevention of war is a goal that everyone is, at least theoretically and emotionally, in favour of. However, when it comes to questions of ‘how can this be achieved?’ and, in given situations, ‘What should be done?’ there is a chatter of confusion.

In recent weeks confusion has developed concerning the interpretation of ALP federal policy and the extent to which that policy is binding on ALP members and ALP governments.

On December 10, 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and called upon all member countries to publicise the text of the declaration widely. Today, 32 years later, there are countries where trade unions are banned outright.