SOVIET PLAN TO HALT A-TESTS

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28551, 2 April 1958, Page 13

SOVIET PLAN TO HALT A-TESTS

View Of British Government (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON, March 31. The Home Secretary, Mr R. A. Butler, said tonight in a 8.8. C. television programme that the British Government would wish to examine today’s statement by Soviet Russia that she was stopping all nuclear tests. “W.e shall have to discuss the Russian statement, and while 1 cannot give the final Government view, I only hope the statement represents a sincere move towards peace,” the Home Secretary declared. However, Mr Butler added: “The statement follows upon the greatest series of Russian tests that have ever taken place. “There have been 50 tests recentlv, nine of them since February 27, and four of them were megaton tests.

Mr Butler was answering questions in the programme “Panorama” put to him by leaders of campaigns opposing nuclear and atomic weapons The Home Secretary said any agreement on nuclear disarmament must be linked with a plan for general disarmament. He thought the Russian announcement should be examined in the sort of spirit in whicn Britain had made her proposals for disarmament and suspension of nuclear tests to the Nortn Atlantic Treaty Organisation. Mr Butler was asked repeatedly whether he, in certain circumstances, would be prepared to “press the button.” He said he could not give an undertaking as to the exact circumstances in which the bomb would be used. “But I can assure you it would be available if the people of the British Isles, or the security of the West, were in question,” he said. Mr Butler said that to give up nuclear weapons would reduce Britain’s strength, and also her influence. “It is our influence I am worried about most.” he added The immense superiority of Russia in conventional weapons would make it impossible for the West to agree to any disarmament proposals which involved only nuclear weapons, he said. “That would put us at the mercy of the Russians,” he declared. The Home Secretary said he believed Britain could best preserve peace by strength. But her strategy in fighting communism should not be limited to the possession of nuclear weapons. “We must have a prosperous economy at home, and must help in the development of peoples overseas.” he declared.