Be Protected'

Pitcairn 'Will Be Protected' From H-Bomb

The United Kingdom govern lent has assured Pitcairn Is mders that they will be pro ved should France go through ith its proposal to use one of le islands of the Gambier Archi elago as an H-bomb testing rea.

HHE assurances followed a protest L from Mr. John Christian, Chief lagistrate on Pitcairn, who said that rave fears were being felt for the landers’ safety from radio-active Dntamination.

It was the Pitcairner’s second pro :st within as many months —the first 'as against what was believed to be le French intention to build a uided-missile base in the Gambiers.

PIM, Jan., p. 69.) It has not been confirmed officially lat France will use the Gambiers 3 explode its first H-bomb, but re orts from reliable sources in early anuary indicate that plans to do so re probably already in hand.

France has carried out its previous uclear experiments in the North African desert. But Algerian inde endence plus protests from other arts of North and Central Africa lake it unlikely that these testing rounds will be available again.

If France is to go ahead and de elop as an independent nuclear orce, as France says that it will, a tew testing ground is imperative— ,nd somewhere in French Polynesia eems inevitable.

The Gambiers are 1,000 miles from fahiti, the centre of French Poly lesia, but only 300 miles from Pit :airn, and fewer from Oneo. A full eport on the Gambiers was given in °IM, Oct. (p. 44).

In its assurances to the Pitcairn islanders, the United Kingdom said hat a long preparation will be needed before France can explode its bomb; vhen it is ready, warnings will have :o be made to aircraft and shipping; md, from Britain’s own experience luring the Christmas Island tests, protection of the populations of near by islands won’t create any problems.

By January about 22,450 people had been vaccinated against smallpox in Port Moresby since a campaign started six months ago.