UNDERGROUND A-TESTS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28921, 15 June 1959, Page 11

UNDERGROUND A-TESTS

Resumption By U.S. Wanted

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

WASHINGTON, June 12. A White House panel of scientists today recommended the resumption of nuclear tests underground “as soon as feasible” to determine the chances of cheating under a test ban agreement. The hitherto secret Berkner report of the scientists was formally presented to the Soviet Union today at the Geneva conference on a discontinuance of nuclear weapons tests. Mr Semyon Tsarapkin, the chief Soviet delegate to the conference has promised to send the Berkner report tests to Soviet scientists for study. The chairman of the United States Atomic Energy Commission (Mr John McCone) told reporters this after attending today’s conference session.

The report said it was much easier to conceal underground nuclear detonations than had been thought possible last year. Mr McCone said the conference which resumed this week after a month’s adjournment, was “going very satisfactorily. “Obviously there are some difficult problems to be resolved and there are differences of. viewpoint but we are all seeking a common objective—the suspension of nuclear tests in all environments with adequate and appropriate safeguards.” There were still a great many technical considerations to be discussed and resolved. “But I. hope the conference is now approaching the point when these technical matters can be taken under examination by experts in the immediate future,” Mr McCone added. A conference source said the United States delegate, Mr J J. Wadsworth, presented the Berkner report in the hope that it would facilitate solution of the major issues related to the achievement of an effective system of control. He said the report received the most careful study, and he was convinced the Russians would recognise its constructive nature. The British delegate, Mr David Ormsby-Gore, said’ he hoped the Berkner report would permit the three Powers to engage in a joint technical study running concurrently with the present conference.

Death In Samoa.—The death has occurred of Mrs O. F. Nelson, aged 70, wife of a pioneer merchant of Apia. Her husband was a former leader of Mau and was twice deported to New Zealand, and later returned with honour as a guest of the Labour Government.—Apia, June 14.