Peking: ‘Grave error’

Press, 10 April 1978, Page 8

Peking: ‘Grave error’

I NZPA-Reuter Peking Peking considers President j Jimmy Carter’s decision to iput off production of the ineutron bomb to be a “grave I error.” . In reporting the decision, the official New China News .Agency did not- comment directly, but it quoted a (number of Western politicians and newspapers. ■ The statements, made before the Carter decision was (announced, were all unfavourable towards delaying the production of ' the enhanced-radiation weapon.

Among others, N.C.N.A. emoted the former United States President, Mr Gerald : Ford, as saying delay (“would be a verv serious mistake” and a Democratic senator, Mr Robert Byrd, as complaining about a lack of (American determination to (face up to a growing Russian menace.

The Official Chinese agency! also denounced t.he Soviet! Union’s “threats” and; I “blackmail” on the question! of the neutron bomb, saying! that Moscow had “carried! out a powerful propaganda! campaign” against the pro-! duction of the weapon by] the United States.

Tn this connection,! ’N.C.N.A. also renewed its' | denunciation of Russian su-; jperiority in conventional! (weapons, particularly mi (Western Europe, and its ap-i proval of the stand taken by I the United States Congress! (last November in favour of! {building the neutron bomb! Ito face up to that superior-! litv.