Prospect Of Lunar Bases Stressed

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30981, 10 February 1966, Page 16

Prospect Of Lunar Bases Stressed

<N.Z P .1. Reuter — Copyright I GENEVA. Feb. !» The Soviet Union yesterday warned that military circles are already planning to set iq bases on the moon,

Mr Semyon Tsarapkin, the chief Soviet disarmament negotiator, told the 17-nation disarmament conference that the prospect of lunar bases made it all the more imperative that the delegates get on with their task. Replying to congratulations on the successful landing of the Soviet moonprobe Luna IX. Mr Tsarapkin said military circles were already scanning the moon to establish military bases there. He did not specify which military circles he meant. The Soviet delegate also warned that Europe was sitting on a nuclear volcano, due to the United States and N.A.T.O. military generals. Lost Weapon Bombs had recently dropped in Europe, he said, citing the loss of a United States nuclear weapon in the sea off the Spanish coast when an American bomber crashed there last month. Only a stroke of luck had saved the Spanish population there from catastrophe, Mri Tsarapkin said. He was speaking in support of an East German proposal that along with West Germany it should renounce nuclear arms, and that the nuclear powers should withdraw such weapons from German territory. The chief United States delegate, Mr William C. Foster, sa|id the Soviet reference to the loss of the nuclear weapon off Spain suggested it showed lack of United States control over such arms. “In our view this unfortunate accident demonstrated just the opposite. Such accidents arc extremely rare, but they are included in United States contingency planning

with respect to nuclear wrap ons,” he said.

has been appu.ti.su ... North Canterbury Hospital Board by the City Council. He will replace Professor A. J. Banks, who has resigned front April 30 because of his appointment as chairman of the University Grants Committee. Mr Pickles was the highest unsuccessful candidate for one of the city seats at the election last October.