SECOND FRENCH BOMB TEST

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29170, 2 April 1960, Page 13

SECOND FRENCH BOMB TEST

Mr K ‘Unhappy’ Over Sahara Blast

(N Z - Preta Awociation-CopyrtgM; (Rec. 1130 pan.) - PARIS, April 1. q k Fra }l ce ® X Ploded her second nuclear device in the Sahara Desert early this morning. and 11 ar^S ’ wFere Mr Khrushchev c • * p - . Gaulle are conferring today, that the Soviet Prime Minister is “unhappy” about the explosion test on Tanuarv 1” a com P^ ement to the 5.15 am GMT on tho P sear5 ear ast limited power took place at were tXn lT™* ? St range * All precautions naturally were taken to avoid any fall-out danger for the population. . I n f?£ mat ik n C Au Cer A n i n . g t^le resu hs of steps taken in control stations throughout the African area will be nublished verv J

There was no immediate indication of whether the bomb was exploded above or below the ground. French atomic technicians have said they have been working on miniaturisation” of atomic bombs to make them suitable for tactical uses. <( Today’s announcement of a “small power” explosion was taken as an indication that the second bomb, was smaller than the first, which had the power equivalent to between 60 and 70 kilotons of TNT, several times the power of the Hiroshima bomb. American Associated Press said the second test was expected to be much smaller than the first and some reports from Paris said it might be dropped from an aircraft, rather than detonated from a tower. Some observers in Paris thought France should not conduct an atomic test while Mr Khrushchev was visiting France. It was reported that the Soviet Government said a test would make Mr Khrushchev “unhappy” if he was still in France. The timing of the blast led to speculations that for their own reasons, the French were demonstrating bluntly to Mr Khrushchev that France must be treated as an atomic power. The French had made their diplomatic point in unmistakable terms, American Associated Press said. Mr Khrushchev told a press conference yesterday he was opposed to further atomic tests by anyone, France included.