‘No limited N-war’

Press, 2 November 1981, Page 8

‘No limited N-war’

NZPA-Reuter Hamburg The Soviet President (Mr Leonid Brezhnev) said in an interview released yesterday that nuclear war could not be limited, but would inevitably develop into a world conflict. Mr Brezhnev told the weekly West German news magazine, “Der Spiegel,” that the Soviet Union would guarantee not to use nuclear weapons against any country banning such weapons ( from its soil. The Soviet leader, who is

due to visit Bonn on November 22 and 23, referred to Soviet sympathy with the creation of nuclear-free zones in such areas as the Mediterranean, the Balkans, and North Europe. In an. apparent reference to a remark by President Reagan that there could be an exchange of tactical nuclear weapons “without having buttons pressed all the way up the line,” Mr Brezhnev said: “Possibly some people believe it conceivable to limit a nuclear war to European territory and regard this as

. an acceptable alternative.” a But he did not believe e nuclear was could be limited. e , “Once it has broken out — e in Europe or elsewhere — a nuclear was would inevitably and inescapably acquire a e world-wide character ... ; t “That is the logic intrinsic' e to war itself and to the 1 character of present-day t weapons and international 1 relations,” he said. r Mr Brezhnev was quoted as saying his. country’s military doctrine was defensive t and precluded the concepts n of “first strike” and of pres ventive wars.