FRENCH ATOM BOMB

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28929, 24 June 1959, Page 15

FRENCH ATOM BOMB

First Test To Be Held Soon

PARIS, June 22.

France was near her objective of exploding her first atom bomb, the French Minister of the Army (Mr Pierre Guillaumat) said today. But he refused to name any date.

Speaking to reporters, Mr Guillaumat said the question of America and Britain sharing secrets with France was quite separate from France preparing her own first bomb.

“The explosion of a French atom bomb will be all the more interesting if we succeed in doing it all with French resources,” he said.

“Today we are near our objective, and it would have been a mistake to ask for aid for our first explosion, a mistake which the French Government has not committed.”

He said due notice of the explosion would be given to the countries interested, including France’s partners in the six-nation Euratom atomic community (which does not include Britain) and her Sahara neighbours. Previous reports have hinted at the Sahara being a possible test site.

Asked if France would suspend nuclear bomb experiments if Russia, America, and Britain reached an agreement to do so, he replied: “To suspend one must have started.”