Evening star., 1960-12-27
ATOMIC

atomic scientist Pierre Billaud
indicated the third device was
something close to being a use
able atomic bomb.
Until now we have been
making prototypes Of a sort, u
re said. "It remains to con-
struct a useable automobile"
The Soviet news agency Tass
quickly charged that the
French explosion dehed the
wishes Of the United Nations
Assembly and was a blow to
hopes Of disarmament.
All Precautions Taken
The test apparently was
above the surface. contrary to
expectations that France would
explode her next atomic In
strument below ground.
The communique said all
precautions were taken to
minimize danger from RADIO
active fallout and that control
posts had been alerted to take
readings Of radioactivity.
The French did not issue the
usual l2shour warning to air.
lines to reroute their African
flights, to stay clear Of a wide
area around the test base. This
indicated the French were con-
fident there was no danger
outside the immediate vicinity
of Reggane, which Is closed to
commercial flights at all times.
The nearest inhabited oasis Is
some 80 miles away.
The test may have been de-
layed to come after the ad-
journment Of the U. N. Gen.
eral Assembly. Almost all the
independent states Of Africa
have protested the French
tests at Reggane, a desert area
$500 miles south Of Oran, Al
geria. The African govern.
ments contend fallout from the
tests endanger their popula-
tlons and the Assembly in ses-
sion would have furnished q
spotlight for new attacks on
the French action.
May Claim Aid
The third test was one more
step in President Charles de
Gaulle's determined drive 70
gain France q voice in the ex-
elusive atomic club"-so far
confined to the United States,
Britain and the Soviet Union.
With the third explosion, he
may now be able to claim
United States aid In atomic
development with more force,
The United States Mcmahon
Act limits the sharing Of Amer
ican I1uclear secrets to friendly
nations that have made Sub
stantial, progress In their own
development. Previously only
Britain qualified.
The French may now claim
that they have made substan-
tial progress toward producing
a practical nuclear weapon, not
Just an experimental device
and therefore are entitled To
share in American secrets.
frances exclusion I'D to the
present time has angered the
French and led to diplomatic
friction within the North At.
lantic Treaty Organization
One result has been Gen. de
Gaulle's refusal to intesrate
most Of his air force with
NATO'S new air defense system
NucIear Force Sought
Another has been Gen. de
Gaulle's determination-despite
opposition at home and abroad
to create an all-French nu-
clear striking force independent
Of NATO.
The French Parliament
finally approved the $l.2 bill
lion first stage of the plan
chiefly for missiles and atomic
bombers-on December 6. Pre-
mier Michael Debre was forced
to make the measure a ques-
ton Of confidence three times
to beat down three successive
opposition censure motions.
Gen. de Gaulle's program
calls for about so nuclear
bombs to be ready in about
five years, or by the time a
fleet Of supersonic jet bombers
is ready to deliver them.
France has not been a mem
ber Of the Geneva talks at
which the United States, Brit
ain and the Soviet Union have
been negotiating since October
81, 1858. on banning nuclear
tests. The talks went into q
two-month recess on Deem
ber 5.