Bomb Protest-Ship Report Was False

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31117, 21 July 1966, Page 15

Bomb Protest-Ship Report Was False

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) SYDNEY, July 20. Reports that a peace ship carrying nine people, including a New Zealand clergyman and his wife, had sailed into the French nuclear test area in the Pacific last month were untrue. This was admitted in Sydney tonight by the Committee Against Atomic Testing which originally made the announcement.

In a statement tonight the committee said the announcement that a 50ft ketch called Humanity First had sailed into the French test zone was false. “This statement was meant as a tactical measure aimed at French military authorities in Tahiti. C.A.A.T. did not appreciate the adverse effect that such a falsehood might have upon the community.” The statement was signed: “Gladney Oakley, secretarytreasurer for Robert Smith, Chairman." On July 1, the C.A.A.T. publicity officer, Mr Lloyd Wilkie, told reporters that Humanity First had left Australia on June 1 to sail into the testing area. He said the crew of nine, including the New Zealand couple, had left instructions that their names were not to be released. Mr Wilkie said the New Zealand minister's wife was acting as radio operator on the ketch, monitoring its receiver for full instructions and advice from the committee. He said the ketch had no transmitter, so the French would not be able to locate it. He said Humanity First had provisions for three months. COMMITTEE’S HOPE Tonight's statement said: “In truth, the committee

hoped most earnestly that it could have been “present on the high seas to confront by deeds’ the insanity of the French Government. “Unfortunately for all those who felt deeply about the danger to humanity Inherent in any further nuclear testing, this hope proved insufficient. “This symbolic voyage described in the July 1 statement was an inspiration conceived and approved at a regular C.A.A.T. meeting on June 30, as a desperate bid to halt French nuclear tests at Mururoa atoll.” The statement added: ‘The actual sacrifice was not in the physical sense of a crew risking life and health, but was rather in the mental anguish experienced by honestly motivated members who feared for fellow humans more than for the reputation of C.A.A.T. “C.A.A.T. admits that it was naive even to consider that the truth about “Humanity First would not become known.” In a separate news release today, C.A.A.T.’s chairman, Mr Robert Smith, aged 32, of Sydney, said that C.AA.T. had bought a steel-hulled 42ft

1 sloop Trident, with funds contributed from New Zealand, i Australia, America and I Britain. SAILING DATE I He said Trident would leave Australia on August 1 to sail towards the French test zone at Mururoa atoll —“if a full crew can be completed immediately.” Mr Smith said the first part of the voyage would be a trial run to New Zealand. Mr Smith said Trident would have a crew of not more than six, and that “although many persons from Australia and overseas have offered their services there is still urgent need for an experienced skipper, navigator and a blue-water yachtsman.” He said that Trident, which had a diesel auxiliary engine, planned to arrive in the Mururoa danger zone before President de Gaulle in September. He said the crew would be prepared to sustain nuclear radiation “on behalf of their fellow men” or “be subjected to French piracy on the high seas as a means of calling the world’s attention to the insanity and injustice of further testing of A and H-bombs."