France to continue tests; N.Z. in total dispute

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33424, 4 January 1974, Page 1

France to continue tests; N.Z. in total dispute

(N.Z. Press Association— Copyright)

AUCKLAND. January 3.

New Zealand disputed the claim of the French President (Mr Georges Pompidou) that French nuclear tests in the South Pacific were juridically legal, the Attorney-General (Dr Finlay) said today.

He said that President Pompidou had “carefully refrained from putting that belief to the test” in the World Court at The Hague.

President Pompidou said yesterday that France would pursue its nuclear tests in the South Pacific. He said that the tests were vital for France’s defence and juridically legal, and that it had been scientifically established that they did not harm man’s health or environment.

Dr Finlay said that New Zealand also disputed the claim that the tests were not harmful. They added to the general environmental risk and hazard. The French President’s statement would have no effect on the New Zealand determination to press its case against French nuclear testing in the South Pacific at the World Court.

Dr Finlay, who is holidaying at Piha, said he had a copy of the New Zealand case which had been filed at the court, and other material on the tests, and was working on it over the holidays. The World Court granted an interim injunction in favour of Australia and New Zealand on June 22 last year to restrain France from further testing. The court

called on all parties to do nothing that would prejudice full-scale hearings on the merits of the case.

Written case

France told the court it did not recognise its jurisdiction and went ahead with a test series which began at the end of July.

The New Zealand memorial or written case against France was filed on November 2 and France has until April 19 to file a normal reply. The court’s interim decision was made without prejudice to any subsequent decision on the merits of the case.

Dr Finlay said today it was expected that the hearings could go ahead about April, and New Zealand was awaiting word. It was probable that he would again head the New Zealand team making representations at the Hague. While this had not been finally decided and would depend on what was happening in Parliament and the country, the general indications were that New Zealand would persist with the same team that went on the first occasion. ‘Well established’

The Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Watt) said in Wellington that New Zealand’s policy was well established.

“We remain firmly opposed to the development, acquisition and retention of nuclear weapons by any country,’’ he said.

“Our concern will continue to be to slow down and stop the arms race. In particular, we view with apprehension the real and constant dangers posed to the whole human family by the collective nuclear arsenal now built up in the world.” Mr Pompidou made no allusion today to underground testing, an alternative which is known to be under consideration by the P.E.C. Drillings began at Fangatofa atoll in 1973. Some scientific observers estimate that studies and apparatus required for underground testing could not be ready much before 1976. Peace Media The Peace Media organisation would support an Australian proposal to send a scientific team into the French nuclear test zone to check on wildlife, the chairman of Peace Media (Mr B. Mitcalfe) said in Tauranga today. Mr Mitcalfe said that his organisation had decided to support the plan to monitor radioactivity in living creatures, especially fish and birds.

President Pompidou maintained that nuclear testing created no danger to life, Mr Mitcalfe said, but no-one, not even the elected deputy, was permitted to visit the island of Mangareva, downwind of the test zone.

Only those directly connected with the atomic project, or those with the approval of the project, were allowed in or out. However, information had come when the American yacht Santana with Charles Peet and his family aboard, was demasted and forced into Mangareva for repairs, he said.

The Peets reported that the people of the island no longer ate fish from the lagoon, that they often became inexplicably sick, and were all confined in a large concrete shelter for periods of up to three days after each test.