N.A.T.O. set on warhead use

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33873, 19 June 1975, Page 17

N.A.T.O. set on warhead use

(N.Z P.A -Reuter—Copyright)

MONTEREY (California), June 18.

Defence Ministers of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation yesterday stressed the importance of keeping a nuclear forces balance in Europe during the next decade, and expressed concern over Soviet nuclear strategic arms increases.

In a communique at the end of two-day talks, the Ministers also underlined N.A.T.O.’s determination to employ nuclear weapons warheads tactically if strategic nuclear action failed to stem an attack.

The N.A.T.O. spokesman, Mr David Kyd, said that the battlefield use of warheads was discussed with Defence Ministers of non-nuclear N.A.T.O. pact nations who would probably bear the brunt of battle.

Meanwhile, N.A.T.O. sources said that the session opened with a briefing by the United States Defence Secretary (Mr James Schlesinger) on the balance of nuclear forces in Europe and current trends in American and Soviet strategic programmes. Mr Schlesinger told the

nuclear planning group that the security of American nuclear weapons stores in Europe would be increased against terrorist attack. A stockpile of nearly 7000 United States nuclear warheads in Europe has been the target of criticism in Congress where many regard it as excessive and provocative to Warsaw Pact memberStates. The Ministers also decided to continue studying improvements in nuclear consultation procedures between nuclear and nonnuclear N.A.T.O. countries. The Ministers, representing Belgium, Denmark. West Germany, Italy. Turkey, Britain. and the United States agreed to hold their next meeting in West Germany next autumn.