French expected to stop march

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33235, 26 May 1973, Page 1

French expected to stop march

GV.Z Press Association—Copyright)

LONDON, May 24.

The French authorities appeared certain to stop the Greenpeace protest march against the French nuclear tests, said the march leader, Mr John Brazier, today.

Speaking by telephone from Courtrai, near the Franco-Belgian border, Mr Brazier said that Greenpeace had been informed by associate protest organisations in Paris that the French authorities had given no indication that they would allow the march to continue across the border.

Greenpeace had predicted that about 3000 to 4000 people would be at the border, near Waterloo, for the crossing—but the numbers have not swelled as Greenpeace hoped. At the moment, only about

40 marchers — including several Belgians—are staying at Courtrai.

“I'm not too disappointed,” Mr Brazier said. “We have had several Belgians joining each day, and have been told that there will be a good rollup on Saturday when we attempt to cross the border.”

“We were hoping that because of the public interest caused by the march, the French police would allow us through the border as a group,” Mr Brazier said.

“We are now considering our tactics, and tomorrow we will have training in non-vio-lent opposition,” Mr Brazier said.

"We are prepared to stay at the border for three days in our attempt to get across and continue the march,” Mr Brazier said. “We have arranged accommodation for three nights so that there will be no chance of the authorities moving us on because of the marchers having no place to stay.” EMOTIVE WARNINGS

This week’s case in the World Court at The Hague against the tests, brought by Australia and New Zealand, produced plenty of emotive warnings about health hazards from French radioactive fall-out, and how the explosions violate the sovereignty of Southern Hemisphere nations—but France has maintained a stony silence throughout the week, and has not been on hand to refute any of the charges laid against her. The French Government considers that the World Court is not competent to deal with a matter which concerns national defence, and has boycotted the case. The French boycott has been criticised by both the Australians and New Zealanders, the latter being particularly slashing in their attack on the French national defence argument. The New Zealand AttorneyGeneral (Dr Finlay) told the Court yesterday that “the admitted object of French testing is the perfection of a thermonuclear explosive device. Is anyone bold enough to describe that as benefiting humanity?” Dr Finlay poured scorn on the French thesis, as he saw it, that New Zealand should accept an infringement of its national health requirements because of French defence requirements.

Dr Finlay is reported to be "very pleased” with the efforts of the New Zealand 'team at The Hague. “I feel that I was able to present the best possible kind of case which New Zealand was able to put,” he said. “It is my

'personal judgment that it impressed the Court.” The Court is expected to give a ruling before the end of the month on the Australian and New Zealand requests for an injunction against the French tests — which both countries fear could resume at any moment. Indeed, an announcement by France that the tests were beginning at Mururoa could well bring an immediate ruling by the Court. Professor R. Q. QuentinBaxter, agent and counsel for the New Zealand team at the World Court, will sum up New Zealand’s case today, and will remain at The Hague to answer any questions the World Court may wish to put. WHITE PAPER In the meantime, the French Government will publish a White Paper defending its forthcoming test series in the South Pacific, informed sources said today.

The document will lay down scientific, military, and political reasons for France’s decision to proceed with the tests in the face of world criticism.

Tire French Foreign Minister (Mr Michel Jobert) announced a week ago that the White Paper was under preparation, but did not say when it would be published. The sources said it would be ready by the beginning of next week, and would counter the Australian and New Zealand charges at The Hague.