Weapon ‘threat to S.A.L.T.'

Press, 7 July 1977, Page 8

Weapon ‘threat to S.A.L.T.'

NZPA-Reuter Washington

A United States Government agency has warned the Carter Administration that plans to develop high-radi-ation neutron nuclear weapons could jeopardise the United States-Soviet Strategic Arms Limitation Talks the “Washington Post” reports.

The paper says the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency has told the White House that production of the neutron weapons, which can be fired by artillery shells or Lance missiles and which kills everyone within a radius of one kilometre by radiation, might also harm negotiations with other nations.

Opponents of the weapons argue that because of their precision, military commanders might be tempted to use them and thus blunder into a nuclear war.

According to the newspaper, additional underground tests would be required to enable the production of neutron weapons. [ A.C.D.A. thought that some nations might feel that if the United States could proceed to a second generation of weapons, Washington should not be telling certain countries that they could not develop a first generation.