U.S. to resume production of chemical weapons

Press, 10 February 1982, Page 8

U.S. to resume production of chemical weapons

NZPA-Reuter Washington -President Ronald Reagan formally set the stage yesterdays for resuming the making of • new chemical weapons after a halt of almost 13 years.

Mr Reagan in a brief letter to the Speaker of the House (Mr Thomas O'Neill), told Congress that the production of new lethal nerve gas munitions "is essential to the national interest." This formal certification is required by law before production can begin. Mr Reagan's action was foreshadowed in his,new defence Budget for next year, in which he requested 's7os million for chemical warfare, a-big-increase over this year's $532 million. The Defence Secretary (Mr Caspar Weinberger) in his annual report, said, that the Pentagon planned to produce two new chemical binary weapons, a 155 mm artillery

shell containing the' nerve agent GB. and the "Bigeye" bomb, which would release a nerve agent called VX. A binary weapon is one in which two agents are packaged separately in non-lethal form, but become killing nerve gases when they mix after the shell or bomb is launched. Specialists say such weapons are safe for American troops and civilians and dangerous only to an enemy in the target area. "The Soviets are clearly ready and able to deploy chemical weapons." Mr Weinberger said in his report. •

. “Deficiencies in- our current offensive and defensive capabilities could encourage use of chemical weapons against us.

"Our objectives are to produce modern and safer chemical munitions suitable to deter first-use by any nation and to improve the

readiness and effectiveness of our defensive equipment."

In his brief letter of certification to Mr O'Neill. Mr Reagan did not specifically mention the Soviet Union, but he said:

"Considering the current world situation, particularly the absence of a verifiable ban on producing and stockpiling chemical weapons, the United States must do all it can to deter chemical warfare by denving a significant military advantage to any possible initiator.

"Such a deterrence . requires modernisation of our retaliatory capability, as well as improvement 'of our chemical warfare protective measures."

Mr Reagan said the action announced yesterday "will provide strong leverage towards negotiating a verifiable agreement banning chemical weapons."