Atoll ‘silence’ attacked

Press, 10 December 1983, Page 8

Atoll ‘silence’ attacked

PA Wellington The Leader of the Opposition, Mr Lange, said last evening it was not good enough that the Prime Minister, Mr Muldoon, should pretend he knew when French nuclear tests were going to stop when, in fact, the programme was being stepped up. After the exnlosion of a second nuclear device this week at Mururoa Atoll, Mr Lange said the Government’s silence on this issue was “appalling to New Zealanders.”

There was a “welling-up of revulsion internationally

against the nuclear arms race and the threat of escalating the capacity of nations to destroy each other.” Mr Lange said.

“In the face of that, France has exploded two nuclear devices in one week at Mururoa. I deplore this continuing arrogance.”

Mr Muldoon asserts that the French President, Mr Mitterrand, had indicated to him a “time period” for the testing to end, but he refused to disclose the details.

The Australian Foreign Minister, Mr Bill Hayden, has expressed disappointment at reports that France

has recommenced nuclear tests at Mururoa Atoll. In a statement in Canberra yesterday, Mr Hayden said he had been informed that New Zealand’s seismological observatory at Rarotonga had reported indications of two nuclear tests.

Mr Hayden noted that he had met the French Foreign Minister, Mr Claude Cheysson, three times this’ year.

On each occasion he had outlined Australia’s strong opposition to and condemnation of the French nuclear testing programme in the South Pacific.