Russia Rejects Western Test Ban Proposals

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29913, 29 August 1962, Page 5

Russia Rejects Western Test Ban Proposals

IN.ZJ’-A.-Reuter—Copyright) GENEVA, August 27. The Soviet Union delegate to the Disarmament Conference today rejected a British-American appeal to accept either a draft treaty to ban all nuclear tests or an alternative draft exempting underground tests.

The second draft would dispense with on-site inspections, an element of control opposed by the Soviet Union The Soviet delegate, promptly rejected the comprehensive draft and assailed the partial ban as an attempt to legalise underground testing As the Western delegates in Geneva tabled the drafts. President Kennedy and Mr Macmillan jointly appealed to the Soviet Union to accept the more Limited ban "For the safety and security of all of us," they said, “this deadly competition must be halted” Even a limited agreement would free mankind from the dangers and fear of radioactive fall-out The United States delegate (Mr Arthur Dean) made it clear the West would not accept an uncontrolled moratorium on underground tests Mr Dean said the partial ban draft would:— Ban nuclear weapons tests in or above the atmosphere and in territorial waters or high seas.

Require treaty partners to refrain from encouraging or participating in such nuclear explosions-by any other state. Permit explosions proscribed under the treaty if these were for peaceful purposes a-nd unanimously agreed to by the original parties, or if any treaty partner determines ‘‘that nuclear explosions have been conducted by a State

not a party to the treaty under circumstances which might jeopardise the determining party's national security ” Not require international verification machinery. Provide a cut-off date for testing Provide for withdrawal, after a conference and notice being given if a party deemeo the treaty had been violated, or that a State not a party to the treaty had tested, and if the party also deemed this jeopardised its national security.