Silence In Paris

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30100, 6 April 1963, Page 11

Silence In Paris

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) “ PARIS, April 5. French official sources today declined all comment on a Noumea report that 150 French technicians were duo in Tahiti to begin preparations for a nuclear test in tho Pacific. All nuclear test plans are treated by the French Government a* a national defence secret. But there have been persistent reporta that experts have already begun preliminary work towards establishment of a test base for France’s future hydrogen bomb in the remote Archi-» pelagos east of Tahiti. The Papeete newspaper, “L; Journal de Tahiti," was quoted in Paris today as reporting a first contingent of 300 Army engineers would set up a base next month on the deserted Mururoa atoll, atxiut 2000 kilometres southeast of Tahiti. In October, the report Mid, a second contingent would go to Hao, in the Tuamotu Archipelago. 1000 kilometres north of Mururoa, and an airfield of “international, class" would be constructed there. An observation base would be set up on toe Island of Fanga Tar fa in the Mme group. The rear base, according to the report, would be in Tahiti itself, with stores, laboratories and medical services. Beeching Sells Well.— Nearly all 13,000 copies of the first edition of the Beeching report on toe reorganisation of Britain’s railways, costing £1 each, have been sold by the Stationery Office. A reprint of 5000 has been ordered.—London, April 5.