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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, FEBRUARY 8, 1985
Over 260,000 Respond to Semiannual Letter.
We were especially encouraged to find that 261,597 people responded to Mr.
Armstrong's recent semiannual letter. The letter also resulted in 10,000
new donors and 2,400 new co-workers.
In the past month, we also noticed a sizable increase in requests for the
booklet PAGAN HOLIDAYS--OR GOD'S HOLY DAYS--WHICH? This no doubt was due
to the Christmas booklet (containing a two-page ad and reply card for the
booklet on the holy days} which was offered in the semiannual letter. Ap
parently this ad piqued the curiosity of many of our subscribers who now
want to know more about the meaning of God's holy days.
1985-86 Calendar Being Mailed
Just a note to let you know that "God's Sacred Calendar" for the 1985-86
year has been printed and. is currently being mailed to members worldwide.
It should arrive in most homes before the spring festival. The theme of the
calendar this year is "The Hearts of the Children." It is beautifully illu
strated with color photographs of our youth programs being conducted
throughout the world.
--Richard Rice, Mail Processing Center
ON THE WORLD SCENE
CRISIS ERUPTS IN SOUTH PACIFIC: THE "GOETZ CASE" The ANZUS defense alli
ance--linking Australia, New Zealand, and the United States--was plunged
into its worst crisis on February 5 after cancellation of sea exercises
that were to have involved the navies of the three nations in the South
Pacific. A U.S. official in Washington said the "Sea Eagle" exercises were
canceled because of New Zealand's refusal to grant port facilities to Amer
ican ships capable of carrying nuclear weapons.
In Wellington, Prime Minister David Lange said New
of pulling out of the three-decade-old alliance.
Labor government would allow port facilities to be
nuclear capability, he replied: "No, we have our
United States} make it a condition, they have made
from ANZUS."
Zealand had no intention
But when asked if his
used by U.S. ships with
policy.
If they (the
a unilateral withdrawal
New Zealand's anti-nuclear policy, which was introduced with Labor's elec
tion victory last July, was put to the test by the United States last week
with its request for a port visit by the destroyer Buchanan. Wellington
twice rejected the U.S. request because it said the ship was capable of car
rying nuclear weapons. The government said that a ship incapable of carry
ing nuclear weapons would be welcome. The New Zealand policy, which bars
visits by any nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed ship, effectively closes its
ports to 80 per cent of the U.S. fleet, military experts believe. In reali
ty, the figure is 100 per cent since as a matter of long-standing policy the
U.S. does not choose to inform ahead of time whether any particular ship is
nuclear-powered or equipped, or is capable of carrying such weapons.
New Zealand's left-wing government claims that visiting nuclear-powered or
nuclear-armed ships make the country a nuclear target in the event of war.
Mr. Lange's position is similar to that of several municipal councils in