SECOND FRENCH TEST REPORTED

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33581, 9 July 1974, Page 1

SECOND FRENCH TEST REPORTED

(New Zealand Press Association > WELLINGTON, July 8. The Prime Minister (Mr Kirk) said tonight he had reason to believe that France had detonated another nuclear test in the atmosphere.

Mr Kirk’s written statement made no indication of how the Government learned of the test. Earlier, at a 6 p.m. press conference, Mr Kirk said that he at that stage did not have confirmation of news reports of another test.

But he expected official confirmation would be made soon, and his statement was issued 35 minutes later. The statement said that the French President (Mr Giscard d’Estaing).had replied to New Zealand’s formal protest against the first test in the present French series. In this the President emphasised France’s decision to move underground, and this was a new element in the French position. “Nonetheless, my Government must continue to insist on the dangers inherent in all nuclear weapon tests and the

need to put an end to them,” said Mr Kirk. At his press conference, Mr Kirk said that there had been blow-back of debris from the first French test recently, and some of this had been recorded in New Zealand as well as in Island territories. The amount of the debris was slight and was nothing to alarm New Zealanders on this occasion, but it did indicate direct fall-out on New Zealand from the French testing. It also indicated that some of the debris blew back intoi the western sector of Muru- i roa, instead of the planned) eastern sector. Mr Kirk said that he expected the Australian case to the World Court would end in The Hague today, and that New Zealand’s case would begin on Wednesday or Thursday.

Aust. report At the same time, the Australian Prime Minister (Mr Whitlam) said that the Australian Government had reason to believe the French Government exploded another nuclear device in the Pacific today. Mr Whitlam said that thei action of the French Govern-1 ment was a matter of deep; concern to the Australian! Government and the feelings! of the Australian Govern-j ment and people against! nuclear tests had not; changed. A Foreign Affairs Depart-1 ment spokesman said that whether Australia wouldl make another protest to France was under considers-i tion. The present series of tests'

by the French is the sixth at Mururoa Atoll.

Today’s reported explosion is the thirty-sixth since the French tests began in the Pacific in 1966.

No comment

French Government spokesmen were unable to confirm or deny the report* of a test today.

“We can make no comment on the report," a Defence Ministry spokesman said.

Officials at the Elysee Presidential Palace also had comment on the report.