GERM WAR STUDY

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30426, 28 April 1964, Page 13

GERM WAR STUDY

Station To Report (N.Z. Press Assn.— Copyright) LONDON, April 27. The Government has decided to reveal the secrets of its chemical and germ warfare centre at Porton, Wiltshire, according to the “Sunday Telegraph.” Ninety-five per cent of work done there by British defence scientists will be made public, probably in June. The decision had been made for two reasons: Progress in developing defences against chemical and bacteriological attack would, if made known, strengthen the deterrent. Excessive secrecy had done harm by creating fear and suspicion of work done at Porton. There was public unease about Porton in 1962 when a scientist, Geoffrey Bacon, died of the “black death.” During a nuclear disarmament demonstration last year 1200 soldiers were posted around the barbed wire fence to keep demonstrators out. Two years ago journalists were allowed to see a small part of the microbiological research department where medical research is also done. In June they will be admitted for the first time to the nearby array chemical defence experimental station.