Issued; French

"Keep Out" Warning Issued; French Tests Likely Soon

Signs and portents in the South Pacific and elsewhere in May indicated that France’s long-heralded and much objected-to nuclear tests at Mururoa Atoll in the Tuamotus would almost certainly begin in

July.

IN mid-May, France warned all air and shipping lines of countries in the Pacific area of her intention to explode nuclear devices in the Mururoa area, but did not give an exact date. However, such warnings are usually given about 45 days before tests are staged.

The warning described the danger zone for shipping as a circle round Mururoa with a radius of 120 nautical miles. For aircraft, the radius was 200 nautical miles.

A final warning will be issued by radio stations in Paris and in Tahiti a few days before the tests.

Other developments in May were;— • The arrival in Papeete of a French naval task force to police the test area (see p. 101). • The Fiji Government banned Dr. J. F. Cairns, a prominent mem ber of the Australian Labour Party, from speaking publicly in Fiji against the French tests when he arrived in Fiji on May 28. Dr.

Cairns was visiting Fiji at the invita tion of Mr Andrew Joseph, chair man of an Atomic Explosion Protest Committee. • Brazil joined the list of countries that have already protested against the tests, i.e., New Zealand, Western Samoa, the Cook Islands, Australia and Peru. Japan indicated that it would protest later, • Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Chile called off a meeting to discuss the tests after nuclear experts from those countries decided at a meeting in Lima, the Peruvian capital, that the tests would not hazard the health of their people.

Well-informed sources in Paris were reported as saying in May that three bombs would be exploded in the air and one under water. The bombs would be in the 60 to 100 kiloton range.