Fears Of States Without Bomb

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31681, 17 May 1968, Page 11

Fears Of States Without Bomb

(N.Z P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) NEW YORK, May 15. The United States has sought to dispel the growing fears of non-nuclear states that their security would not be properly guaranteed by the treaty to halt the spread of nuclear weapons.

The United States Ambassador. Mr Arthur Goldberg, addressing the General Assembly's Main Political Committee yesterday, also dealt with many other reservations expressed by non-nuclear States—notably India and Brazil about the present draft treaty. The draft treaty, on which the United States and Russia agreed after seven years of discussion, envisages that the safety of non-nuclear nations would be guaranteed under the Security Council. The United States, Russia, and Britain—the three nuclear powers which support the treaty—are all permanent members of the council. These three countries have agreed to sponsor a resolution in the council to guar-

antee and reaffirm the security of non-nuclear States. Mr Goldberg said: "My Government believes that this resolution will lay a firm political, moral and legal basis for assuring the security of non-nuclear parties to this treaty.” “A key paragraph of the draft resolution envisages declarations by the nuclearweapon sponsors giving assurances to the non-nuclear-weapon States that will enhance their security against the threat of nuclear attack." he said.

The question governments should ask themselves was not whether the treaty provided perfect security, but rather whether it made a country more secure than before, Mr Goldberg said.