French nuclear testing

Press, 9 April 1977, Page 14

French nuclear testing

Sir, — On April 1, "The Press” printed under the I heading, “Saintly anti-test ■ move,” a dispatch from the Press Association on the Is- • land of Futuna. In reply, I I can say that the various ruI niours circulated recently ! that France is preparing to move to the islands of j Wallis or Futuna its nuclear I testing centre at present I based in French Polynesia are without any foundation. ■ It is out of the question that I any atomic explosions could, I in the future, take place at ■ Futuna. The remains of St Peter Chanel are being transferred to Futuna with the full support of the French authorities who have given, in this respect, their ■ material, diplomatic (with ; which this Embassy was j associated) and financial, I assistance in full co-oper-ation with the Marist Broth- ; ers. You will realise that, in i these circumstances, the I significance attributed by Mr ! Soljak to the return of the ' relics to Futuna also lacks i any foundation. — Yours, i etc.. I ALBERT DE SCHONEN. Ambassador of France, Wellington. April 4. 1977.