TESTS TO CONTINUE

Press, Volume C, Issue 29681, 27 November 1961, Page 15

TESTS TO CONTINUE

(N Z _Pji -Reuter— Copyright)

NEW YORK. Nov. 25. The United States wsnld continue underground testing during the forthcoming negotiations with the Soviet Union at Geneva on a test baa treaty, the chief United Stales nuclear negotiator (Mr Arthur Dean) announced last night Le said the United States would not enter into another uninspected. uncontrolled moratorium with the Soviet Union and the United States policy would be “test and talk.” Mr Dean leaves New York by air today for Geneva to heed the American delegation at the resumed negotiations on Tuesday. Mr Dean asked at a press conference whether the

United States would conduct tests during the coming negotiations, said: “Absolutely yes, so far as underground testing is concerned.” Asked if the United States would resume testing in the atmosphere, Mr Dean referred to President Kennedy’s statement on November 2 reserving the right of the United States to do so if so desired.

Mr Dean announced the American decision after disclosing in the United Nations earlier that the Soviet Union had conducted 50 nuclear t -is in its recent series of

explosions—3o more than previously reported. The United States conducted four underground tests after the Soviet Union broke the moratorium by testing tn the atmosphere on September 1.

The New York “Herald Tribune” said that Mr Dean’s announcement raised the question whether the Russians would walk out of the Geneva negotiations even before they got under way on Tuesday. The Soviet statement announcing Moscow’s acceptance to the joint AmericanBritish offer to resume tripartite negotiations at Geneva contained this warning:— “It goes without saying that if, during the talks, any Power starts to test nuclear weapons, then, through the force of circumstances to which the Soviet Government has pointed more than once, the other side would 1-e compelled to draw appropriate conclusions with regard to nuclear tests as well.”