Salient. Official Newspaper of Victoria University of Wellington Students Association. Vol 40 No. 26. October 3 1977

Preserving the status quo—externally

Preserving the status quo—externally

The SIS is not just the tool of internal repression—it is also the pawn of external forces that would 'subvert' our society. Through permanent telex links, regular staff interchanges and training programmes the SIS is joined into the worldwide activities of the CIA. All these contacts are increasing.

New Zealand is firmly entrenched in the US Alliance and as a result the SIS undertakes activities on behalf of a 'friendly' foreign power which are in fundamental conflict with the interests of the New Zealand people. Pressure from the CIA and the British Secret Service was used to try and prevent W.B. Sutch from becoming the head of the Department of Industries on Commerce in the late 1950s. Sutch's crime was to advocate economic independence for New Zealand and a curtailing of the economic stranglehold held over NZ by the major western powers. The pressure was unsuccessful.

The US Alliance also conditioned the definition of "subversive". New Zealanders who oppose US foreign policy are seen as threatening the ANZUS alliance, which is supposedly essential to our security.

We are not just forbidden to dissent from our own Government's policies—we must also keep a careful eye on those of the United States if we do not wish to labelled subversive.