‘NUCLEAR LANDMINES’ N.A.T.O. Studies Possibilities

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31658, 19 April 1968, Page 13

‘NUCLEAR LANDMINES’ N.A.T.O. Studies Possibilities

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) WASHINGTON, April 18 The Secretary of Defence, Mr Clifford, has gone for talks to America’s North Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies, which will include discussing possible uses of underground nuclear explosives to block invasion routes to Europe.

Mr Clifford, making his first! overseas trip since becoming Defence Secretary on March 1, is to represent the United States at a meeting of the seven-nation N.A.T.O. nuclear planning group in The Hague. The agenda will include what are known in military jargon as “atomic demolition munitions,” sometimes called “nuclear landmines.” These would be designed to block mountain passes by blowing up hillsides or to create a line of huge craters across the path of an invading army. They have been discussed within N.A.T.O. for several years. Turkey, Russia’s neighbour, has displayed interest in them. The United States position is to support further detailed study of the devices, including their advantages and disadvantages compared with other weapons, and the question of whether they might be suited to some European frontiers but not others. Nations attending the talks will include the United States,

Britain, Canada, West Germany, Greece, Italy and the Netherlands. The talks are expected to deal with the possibility of a ballistic missile defence system for Europe. The United States is building a limited anti-missile system in America against possible Chinese attack in the 19705. But the Defence Department believes that no system yet developed would work against the Soviet Union’s massive nuclear arsenal. Since the threat to Europe is the Soviet Union, not China, United States defence officials believe that an antimissile system for Europe would be a waste of money. But, they say, this is a question for Europe to decide.