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SECRET PAGE 01 PARIS 08823 291908 Z 72 ACTION PM-09 INFO OCT-01 EUR-25 EA-11 IO-12 ADP-00 ACDA-19 AEC-11 AF-10 ARA-11 CIAE-00 DODE-00 H-02 INR-10 L-03 NASA-04 NEA-10 NSAE-00 NSC-10 OIC-04 PA-03 PRS-01 RSC-01 GAC-01 SCI-06 SS-14 MBFR-03 USIA-12 SAJ-01 NSF-04 SCEM-02 AID-20 EB-11 CIEP-02 TRSE-00 STR-08 OMB-01 CEA-02 RSR-01 /245 W --------------------- 056095 R 291645 Z MAR 73 FM AMEMBASSY PARIS TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8753 INFO AMEMBASSY CANBERRA USMISSION GENEVA AMEMBASSY LIMA AMEMBASSY LONDON USMISSION NATO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON S E C R E T PARIS 8823 NOFORN E. O. 11652: XGDS-1 TAGS: PARM, FR, CH SUBJECT: FRENCH NUCLEAR TESTING REF: PARIS 6421 1. SUMMARY. MARCH 27 LE MONDE CARRIED FRONT- PAGE EDITORIAL IMPLICITLY CRITICAL OF FRENCH GOVERNMENT' S UNWILLINGNESS TO DIS- CLOSE OBJECTIVES AND TIMETABLE FOR ITS NUCLEAR TEST PROGRAM. DEFENSE MINISTRY OFFICIAL WAS UNABLE SUGGEST ANY WAY OUT OF PRESENT IMPASSE CAUSED BY FRANCE CONSIDERING TESTING PROGRAM ESSENTIAL TO ITS NATIONAL SECURITY AND GROWING AUSTRALIAN AND SECRET SECRET PAGE 02 PARIS 08823 291908 Z NEW ZEALAND CRITICISM AND IMPLIED THREATS OF DIRECT ACTION AGAINST FRENCH TESTING PROGRAM. PRESSURE FOR THE US TO TAKE A STAND ON THE QUESTION MAY INCREASE THIS YEAR. END SUMMARY 2. EDITORIAL IN MARCH 27 LE MONDE QUOTES FRENCH AMBASSADOR AT CANBERRA AS TELLING AUSTRALIAN TELEVISION THAT FRANCE WAS APPROACHING TIME WHEN ITS ATMOSPHERIC NUCLEAR TESTS WOULD NO LONGER BE NECESSARY BUT NOTES THAT THE AMBASSADOR REFUSED TO SPECIFY HOW MUCH LONGER THE TESTS WOULD CONTINUE. EDITORIAL STATES THAT FRENCH EFFORTS TO AVOID CRITICISM OF TESTS BY REFUSING TO ANNOUNCE THEIR EXISTENCE HAS NOT SUCCEEDED IN QUIETING WORLDWIDE PROTESTATIONS. 3. EDITORIAL NOTES US, WHICH HAS SEVERAL " ACCOUNTS TO SETTLE" WITH FRANCE IN THE " STRICT SENSE OF THE TERM," ( I. E. , TRADE AND MONE- TARY MATTERS), MIGHT BE TEMPTED TO CREATE SEVERAL PROBLEMS. HOWEVER, EDITORIAL SAYS " THE UNITED STATES EMBASSY AT PARIS HAS STRONGLY COUNSELED ITS GOVERNMENT NOT TO MIX THE ATOM, MONETARY PROBLEMS AND COMMERCE." 4. EDITORIAL CONCLUDES BY ARGUING THAT FRENCH PUBLIC AS WELL AS AUSTRALIANS HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW HOW LONG TESTS WILL CON- TINUE, UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS THEY WILL BE HELD, AND HOW MUCH THEY WILL COST. 5. EMBOFF TOLD BOTH QUAI ( DIRECTOR, PACTS AND DISARMAMENT) AND DEFENSE MINISTER DEBRE' S DIPLOMATIC ADVISOR THAT IMPLICATION THAT EMBASSY AND/ OR WASHINGTON HAD EVEN CONSIDERED POSSIBILITY OF THREATENING TO RELEASE INFORMATION ON FRENCH NUCLEAR TESTS UNLESS FRANCE GRANTED US COMMERCIAL CONCESSIONS WAS UTTERLY WITHOUT FOUNDATION. QUAI OFFICIAL SAID HIS COLLEAGUES HAD BEEN " ASTONISHED" BY LE MONDE EDITORIAL AND THANKING US FOR INFORMATION SAID HE WOULD PASS OUR COMMENTS ON TO QUAI DIRECTOR GENERAL DE COURCEL. 6. DEF MIN OFFICIAL ALSO THANKED US FOR INFORMATION, ADDING THAT LE MODE WAS LEADING A VERITABLE CAMPAIGN AGAINST FRENCH TEST PROGRAM. 7. DEF MIN OFFICIAL NOTED GOF HAD MANAGED TO DEAL WITH LAST YEAR' S THREATS BY PERU TO BREAK RELATIONS WITH FRANCE IF FRENCH SECRET SECRET PAGE 03 PARIS 08823 291908 Z CONTINUED TESTING, BY REFUSING TO ANNOUNCE TESTS HAD TAKEN PLACE. ( AND ALSO, OF COURSE, BY JUDICIOUS AID MEASURES.) FRENCH, HE SAID, WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE " DISCRETION" THE RULE. 8. HOWEVER, OFFICIAL CONTINUED, FRENCH RECOGNIZE POTENTIAL DIFFICULTIES WITH AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND ARE FAR MORE SERIOUS THAN LAST YEAR' S PROBLEMS WITH THE LATIN AMERICANS. DEF MIN OFFICIAL SAID FRENCH BELIEVE NEITHER AUSTRALIA NOR NEW ZEALAND WILL SEND WARSHIPS TO THE TEST SITE ALTHOUGH PRIVATE VESSELS WERE ALREADY REPORTEDLY ON THEIR WAY. FRANCE, HE CONTINUED, WAS QUITE WILLING TO DISCUSS HER TEST PROGRAM PRIVATELY WITH AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENTS IN HOPES OF AVOIDING CONFRONTATION. 9. OFFICIAL IMPLIED GOF WAS NOT IN POSITION TO ACCEPT LE MODE' S SUGGESTION THAT IT ANNOUNCE TIMETABLE, CONDITIONS AND COSTS OF FUTURE TESTING PROGRAM. HE SAID GOF HAD BEEN STUDYING POSSIBILITY OF UNDERGROUND TESTS BUT E E E E E E E E *** Current Handling Restrictions *** n/a *** Current Classification *** SECRET