PM Transcripts

PRESS STATEMENT NO. 275
June 1974
BRITISH NUCLEAR WEAPONS TEST
The Australian Government has repeatedly made
clear its opposition to nuclear weapons testing by any
country in any environment. In particular the Government
has given its strong support to resolutions in the
United Nations directed against nuclear weapons testing
which is known to have been conducted systematically over
the years by the United States and the Soviet Union. Very
recently it has protested against French and Chinese nuclear
weapons tests in the atmosphere. It has expressed its
concern to the Indian Government about its recent
underground test.
The platform of the Australian Labor Party
expressly opposses the development, proliferation, possession
and use of nuclear weapons.
The Australian Government is disappointed to
learn therefore that the British Government has conducted
a nuclear weapons test underground in the United States,
after a long interval of nine years. This has occurred at
a time when other recent developments have justifiably
increased apprehension in the international community about
the nuclear arms race.
The Australian Government earnestly hopes that the
forthcoming Summit talks between the Soviet Union and the
United States will make real progress towards the ultimate
objective of a complete ban on all nuclear weapons testing.
CANBERRA. A. C. T
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