TESTING BY U.S.

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30220, 27 August 1963, Page 3

TESTING BY U.S.

Underground Programme (N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) WASHINGTON, Aug. 25. The United States will spend 100 million dollars a year to maintain its nuclear readiness • and safeguard security under the Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty, United States Defence Department officials said today. With President Kennedy’s approval, the department yesterday submitted to Congressional leaders its plans for carrying on a “vigorous”, programme of underground testing. Officials said that current underground testing would be broadened to include as many tests as possible to replace atmospheric shots. Letters outlining this and other proposals, including readiness to resume atmospheric tests, improvement of detection methods and active laboratory work, were sent to the Capitol by the Undersecretary of Defence (Mr Rosewell Gilpatric) and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (General Maxwell Taylor). Some secret documents were also submitted to the senators with Mr Gilpatric’s and General Taylor’s letters. Mr Gilpatric, in his letter, said: “The underground test programme will be comprehensive. Therefore, it will be revised to include as many as feasible of the objectives of the test which we would otherwise do under conditions of unrestricted testing.’’