U.K. chemical war talks

Press, 6 October 1980, Page 7

U.K. chemical war talks

NZPA London The British Secretary of Defence (Mr Francis Pym) has initiated talks with the United States on chemical warfare. “The Times” has reported. Mr Pym told the newspaper’s defence correspondent. Henry Stanhope, that he was “haunted” by the growing Soviet stockpile of such weapons. He had proposed the talks to examine the most effec-

' tive way of deterring Russia. The Americans, whose arsenal of gas weapons was very old, shared his alarm, he said.

Mr Pym said the Government had no plans to issue British forces with chemical weapons to replace stocks destroyed after the Second World War.

Britain had worked passionately for an international treaty banning them, and would continue to do so.

I Mr Pym said the talks had begun on his initiative to examine the most effective way in which the Russians might be deterred from using chemical weapons in wartime.

British newspapers have commented that Mr Pym’s move and his publicising of lit appear to be an attempt Ito prompt the Russians to agree to talks to outlaw such weapons.