Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-11-05
BY CROSBY S. MOVES

bomb and would be able to ex-
plode its first one at any time.
For a variety Of reasons, how
ever, 1t is thought likely that
the test will be delayed until
spring.
The major difficulty delaying
development of the French
bomb for more than a year
has been the production of
plutonium-the essential ex-
plosive element. A reactor at
Marcoule near Avignon de-
signed to produce plutonium
gave trouble in its early stages.
Despite the steady flow Of
vaguely optimistic statements,
no responsible French spokes-
man until this week has claimed
that the Marcoule plant was in
actual production. In his re-
port to the French Senate on
Tuesday, however, Jacques
Soustelle, President de Gaulle's
Minister for Atomic Power, i'm
piled strongly that the problem
has been solved.
No Question of Ability
Once the necessary supply Of
plutonium is available, there is
no question that French tech
nicians can produce a service
able bomb. BY American or
British standards, the weapon
will be relatively crude ("neither
apocalyptic nor ridiculous" ac-
cording to Mr.. Soustelle). But
since it will be packaged for air
transportation, it will rate as
a practical weapon.
While stepping up their
propaganda to prepare public
opinion at home and abroad for
the first explosion, the French
are keeping their target date a
close secret. Although political
MISUNDERSTANDING the atomic
disarmament conference at
Geneva and the coming summit
meeting-weigh in favor of an
early date for the test. techni-
cal considerations could cause
postponement for several more
months.
Among these perhaps the
most important is the question
of meteorological conditions in
the Sahara, where the test is
to be held. In answering vio-
lently hostile criticism of the
project in Africa and the
United Nations, Mr.. Soustelle
and Jules Moch, Frances U. N.
representative, have made a
great point of precautions
being taken to assure the
safety of surrounding areas.
Though their assurances
have by no means succeeded
in stopping all complaints.
they do indicate that special
Importance is being given to
weather conditions.
These conditions in the Sa-
hara are understood to be most
favorable in spring and sum-
mer. For its part, the United
States has never conducted
nuclear experiments during
winter months.
More Than One Bomb?
Another reason for the delay
might be that the French plan
to explode more than one
bomb. Given the high expense
of setting up the show, it may
be felt more practical to wait
until enough plutonium is
available for several explosions
rather than a single shot.
It is only recently that for
eign observers in Paris have
become convinced that the
French actually intend to go
through with their much-pub-
licized development of an
atomic weapon. Until now there
has been a suspicion that Gen.
de Gaulle was more interested
in getting a bigger say for
France on this question of
Western policy - including a !
possible veto over the use of
nuclear weapons anywhere in
the world-than in having a |
bomb of his won.
In fact, this is still felt to |
be his major consideration.
Quite apart from the question
of national prestige-what Mr..
Soustelle calls the political
and economic standing of the
country" - the French seem
firmly convinced that their pos
session of an atomic weapon
will yield them a number of
immediate and practical politi-
cal rewards.
Hopeful Of Data
Rightly or wrongly, many
French leaders believe that
what they refer to as the "An-
glo-American partnership" in
NATO results largely from
Britain'S status as a nuclear
power. Beyond this they are
hopeful their own development
may lead to a lifting of Ameri-
can restrictions on the ex-
change of atomic military in
formation.
Although officially the United
States has offered neither en-
couragement nor opposition to
Frances atomic effort, officials
here have a number of private
reservations about these ex-
pected results.
In the military field, France,
even with the bomb, will GER
tainly never be an atomic