French neutron test hint

Press, 3 August 1981, Page 8

French neutron test hint

NZPA-Reuter Papeete France might test neutron weapons, the Defence Minister (Mr Charles Hernu) said in Papeete yesterday before inspecting France’s nuclear test blast facilities at Mururoa Atoll. France . had conducted studies and research on these weapons, but the new Leftist Government had not yet decided whether such arms should be “part of the French panoply.” He said that his Government would follow French policy of refusing to issue any information about test blasts. “But I can tell you that when I board a plane (to leave Tahiti) in four days, the last test in the present series will be finished,” he said jokingly.

The Nuclear Test Centre in Polynesia would be indispensable to France “until the others start to disarm,” he asserted. The islanders had sent thousands of protest letters when he suspended test blasts to see if security conditions were adequate. The Polynesians were fully aware that the test centre accounted for 30 per cent of French Polynesia’s income.

When asked about the new policy on arms exports,'Mr Hernu said it would be indecent to sell arms to some countries.

A total embargo has been clamped down on French deliveries to South Africa, and “on several hundred street-fighting tanks intended for Chile. As for Libya, no Mirages will be delivered.”