31 set to join the N-club — Paper

Press, 25 November 1982, Page 12

31 set to join the N-club — Paper

NZPA New York A total of 31 countries, many of which are in conflict with their neighbours, will' produce a nuclear bomb by the year 2000, according to a study cited by the “New York Times” newspaper. Compiled by United States intelligence services for the armed forces, the report-said that among those countries expected to join the nuclear club by the end of the century were Israel — already suspected by some of possessing the bomb — Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, South Africa, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, several Western European nations, Canada, and Australia. The report said that “additional measures” would have to be taken to protect American forces and interests, suggesting that the United States, would require small tactical nuclear weapons in wars with any country besides the Soviet Union. It said that given the prospect of limited nuclear wars, the United States would give priority to bettering the chances for population survival and to controlling tactical nuclear arms. Today the nuclear, list is limited to France, Britain, the United' States, the Soviet Union, China, and India.