More Protests On French Tests

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31005, 10 March 1966, Page 1

More Protests On French Tests

(New • Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, March 9.

New Zealand will continue to protest against French nuclear tests in the Pacific and will set up a network of monitoring stations.

The Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) said in a statement today he had reviewed with the new French Ambassador to New Zealand, Mr JeanFrancois Duflos, New Zealand’s concern at the prospect of the tests.

The Government would continue to do whatever was possible to voice its protests against the holding of future atmospheric tests whether by France, Communist China, or any other power, great or small.

New Zealand would also take any practicable steps along with other like-minded nations in the Pacific to endeavour to prevent such tests.

“If France goes ahead, the Government will arrange a network of Independent New Zealand monitoring stations in the Pacific during the tests and for as long afterwards

as there may be danger of contamination, however slight,” Mr Holyoake said. “This is something which we did in the past on the occasion of previous British and American tests and which enabled us to confirm that there was no biological hazard to health in New Zealand island territories or in Western Samoa.

“We are, in fact, continuing to collect fall-out in certain areas of the Pacific, such as Rarotonga and Fiji, but these activities are naturally on a limited scale at present since the levels recorded are so low,” Mr Holyoake said. He said officials had already worked out the main lines of the monitoring service. These arrangements would soon be reviewed in the light of information now held, including that received in technical discussions with the French authorities. “We do not wish to be in a position where we depend on assurances given to us by others.

“While we welcome the undertaking which the French Government has given us to provide information about safety measures and note the assurances given, we nevertheless wish to be able to make our own independent assessment,” Mr Holyoake said.