N.Z. Appeals At U.N. Against French Tests

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30267, 21 October 1963, Page 3

N.Z. Appeals At U.N. Against French Tests

(N.2P.A -Reuter—Copyright) NEW YORK, October 19: New Zealand yesterday appealed to France once again not to carry out nuclear tests in the atmosphere in the South Pacific. The leader of the New Zealand delegation to the General Assembly, Mr A. D. Mclntosh, cited possible dangers to the health of the people of the Cook Islands, Western Samoa, and New Zealand itself.

He made his appeal in the Assembly’s Main Political Committee during debate on an Indian item on the “urgent need” to suspend all nuclear tests. “It is of little comfort to people confronted wiltih the prospect of exposure to additional radio-active contamination that the nation contemphating prodiucinig it either has not tested before, or has tested less than have other countries,” Mr Mclntosh said. “After all, radio-active debris pays no respect to national boundaries nor is it altered in its effects by varying national origin.” He said preparation of a testing ground had already begun alt a site only 1200 miles from “the more heavily populated areas” of the Cook Islands, for whidh New Zealand was responsible, 2200 miles from Western Samoa and 2650 miles from New Zealand. Moreover, further tests might raise obstacles to the conclusion of an agreement for the complete cessation of tests and to progress in the field of disarmament generally. “Poisonous Burden” Discussing the effect of rariiioactiwity, Mr Mclntosh said the atmosphere still carried “a poisonous burden from the hundreds of tests which have already taken place.” In New Zealand, he said, there was “a small but measurable increase in radioactive contamination in the earlier months of this year over levels previously recorded.” The site chosen by the

French indicated that the proposed tests were to be conducted in the atmosphere, he said. New Zealand appreciated France’s assurances that all possible safety precautions would be taken and thait the New Zealand Government would be kept fully informed. Fears Not Allayed “But because of the existing levels of radioactivity and the imprecise state of scientific knowledge concerning its potential consequences, this assurance cannot wholly allay our anxiety about possible dangers to the health and to the food supplies, land and marine, of the people in the adjacent Cook Islands, in the state of Western Samoa and in New Zealand itself,” he said. It was true that the level of radioactivity in the Southern Hemisphere was still considerably lower than in the Northern, and was still fortunately below permissible levels. “But it has nevertheless been sufficient to cause deep concern, and the people of the South Pacific see no good reason why they should suffer it to be increased,” Mr McIntosh said. “The Government of New Zealand, has, therefore, most compelling reasons to add its voice to those of others in appealing to all countries to become parties to the Test-Ban Treaty and to abide by its letter and spirit” Appeal To Sign

He urged the General Assembly to make a special appeal to countries which had not signed the treaty. Mr Mclntosh said China’s denunciation of the partial treaty was “even more foreboding in its implications” than was France’s view that a cessation of testing was not in her national interests.

New Zealand shared the view that the partial treaty must be reinforced by further measures or the benefits of the treaty might be lost. She hoped that increased political confidemce would dispose the Great Powers to set up the first rudiments of a system of international inspection so that agreement might be reached to ban underground testing as well, he said. The committee adjourned its disarmament debate until Tuesday.