Challenge To Russia

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31380, 27 May 1967, Page 13

Challenge To Russia

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) GENEVA, May 26. The Soviet Union was challenged at the Geneva disarmament conference yesterday to open up its nuclear plants to international inspection, i General E. L. M. Burns, the Canadian delegate, demanded that all States—including the nuclear powers should accept such inspection teams under a treaty to halt the spread of nuclear weapons. Safeguards should not ap-

ply only to countries without nuclear weapons and who agree not to acquire them he said.

Original proposals for the planned treaty worked out by the United States and the Soviet Union provided- only for the inspection of nonnuclear countries. But the United States and Britain are understood to be ready to offer to open their peaceful nuclear plants to inspection. Some sources say they may make the offer as soon as the long-delayed draft is tabled. Argument over inspection procedures between the Americans and Russians—the co-

chairmen of the conference—threaten to delay this until well into summer.

Such an offer by the British and Americans would put the Russians in a difficult position.

Of the two other powers with nuclear weapons, France has boycotted the conference for some years, and China is not a member.

The Russians are also under pressure to make concessions to the desire of West Germany and other European states for inspection by the European Atomic Energy Community as an alternative to the International Atomic Energy Agency.