251. Letter From President Carter to New Zealand Prime Minister Muldoon1
I set great store by the very close and fruitful relationship existing between the United States and New Zealand. I have therefore asked Vice President Mondale to visit Wellington and to carry forward on my behalf the discussions we had with you and your colleagues in Washington this past November.2 I found your visit here at that time extremely useful not only in furthering our bilateral ties but in deepening my understanding of the cooperative steps our two countries can take in the Pacific Basin and elsewhere.
The Vice President, who, as you know, has been playing a key role in foreign policy, is looking forward to discussing a wide range of political, economic, and trade issues. He will also be presenting our thoughts on such key problems as food and energy, issues to which your Government, I know has been devoting close attention.
I do hope to be able to make a trip to New Zealand at some time in the future. In the meantime, I will be looking forward with great interest to hearing the Vice President’s report of his visit.
Sincerely,
- Source: Carter Library, Donated Historical Material, Mondale Papers, Overseas Assignments—Trip Files, 1977–1980, Box 22, VP’s Visit to the Pacific, 4/29/78–5/11/78: New Zealand (5/9/78–5/10/78)—President Carter’s Letter to PM Muldoon. No classification marking.↩
- See Documents 248 and 249.↩